stimulates / generates
improvements in
depressive symptoms
improves blood flow in the brain
restores the brain's ability to
regulate mood by enhancing the
transmission of neurotransmitters
Side effects
memory loss
cardiovascular
changes
headaches
Effectiveness of ECT
for depression
Sackheim (1989) - real ECT is significantly
more effective than placebo ECT
however bilateral was more
effective than unilateral
Sackheim - ECT is
more effective than
anti-depressant drugs
however, the use of medication
following ECT can prevent relapse
ECT is more effective
in the short term
treatment of depression
however, lacks reliability as the
trials haven't been compared
with newer anti-depressants
doesn't cure the potential
cause, only the symptoms
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
aim - train clients to distance themselves from
things; distinguish fact from fiction; see things in
proportion; not to see things in such extreme terms
Thought catching
individuals are taught how to
see the link between their
thoughts and the way they feel
they might be asked to
record any emotion-arousing
events, the automatic
'negative' thoughts
associated with these events
and then their 'realistic'
thoughts that might challenge
these negative thoughts
by challenging the dysfunctional thoughts and replacing
them with more constructive ones, clients are encouraged to
try out new ways of thinking, and in turn, behaving
Behavioural activation
based on the common-sense
idea that being active leads to
rewards that act as an
antidote to depression
the characteristic of many depressed
people is that they no longer participate in
activities that they previously enjoyed
in CBT, therapist and client identify
potentially pleasurable activities and
anticipate then deal with any cognitive
obstacles ( "I won't be able to do that" )
Butler (2006) - CBT was
highly effective for
treating depression
however, Holmes (2002) - the single
greatest study into effective treatment for
depression showed that CBT was less
effective that medication
CBT takes full account of the patient's
thoughts, attitudes and feelings
however, it focuses more of
treating symptoms rather than
getting to the cause of problems