Posted by Elizabeth on September 19, 1999, at 6:36:48
In reply to Re: Books to heal by ..., posted by Adam on September 16, 1999, at 22:11:46
> I am of the oppinion that cognative-behavioral therapy, or variants thereof are the best
> forms of psychotherapy out there.To each his own. I have observed (from group therapy settings) that CBT is of some value for behavioral disorders such as drug abuse, bulimia, borderline personality, OCD, some aspects of ADHD, and especially specific phobias (or agoraphobia), and for minor disorders of mood and thought such as hypochondriasis, adjustment disorders, posttraumatic stress, demoralization (without underlying depression), partially remitted depression, etc., but that it is of little or no value for major depressive disorder, panic disorder without agoraphobia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. (I am unconvinced that it is of much use in generalized social phobia, either.)
CBT cannot change the "distorted thinking caused by depression" because it has no effect on the depression itself, which drives the distorted thinking. If distorted thinking is driving the depression, IMHO that probably constitutes a personality or adjustment issue, not a primary mood disorder.
CBT depends on the fallacy that the "will" is some sort of disembodied entity that functions independently of the rest of the mind, and that one may therefore think oneself into feeling better, with the help perhaps of some sophistry on the part of the therapist. Cognitive-behaviorists believe that "thinking" and "feeling" are two separate functions that influence another. From discussions with CBT therapists (psychologists trained in C-B theory and practice), I get the impression that they believe depression (or its recurrence) is caused by "bad thinking," and that "correcting" those "cognitive distortions" will somehow cure the depression.
My experience (not just with myself, but from observing other people with major depression in a CBT group) is that this therapy does not help those with severe major depression, and that the failure to improve is often blamed on the patient ("you're not trying hard enough," "you're not doing it right," etc.) and causes frustration and demoralization. I have never seen such individuals helped by CBT.
I recommend _Descartes's Error_ (Antonio Damasio), for a discussion of the relationship between "thinking" and "feeling."
poster:Elizabeth
thread:11573
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990914/msgs/11765.html