Posted by URCONFUSED on September 21, 2002, at 16:54:36
After several years of severe refractory depression and multiple medications, Ive broken down and read my first touchy feely, girly therapy book. Called "Feeling Good" its by this guy named Dr. David Burns. Its mostly about something called CBT or "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy." I must admit, I find many of Dr. Burns opinions about depression inflammatory to say the least.
First of all, he refuses to acknowledge the biological basis for severe depression. He wont talk about depression in the same way he talks about "other major mental disorders" such as bipolar or schizophrenia. He claims that ALL and I do mean ALL cases of depression result from "cognitive" distortions or thought distortions. I find this all or nothing, black and white thinking by Dr. Burns repulsive.
There are many, many cases of severe depression induced by drugs, not by negative thoughts. Additionally, many cases of major depression develop after going thru a life trauma such as a nasty divorce. Dr. Burns wont talk about this in his book. Its clear to me that Dr. Burns is personally biased against the idea that severe mental illness is a medical disorder.
Then the most hypocritical thing of all in his drugs section in the second half of the book, Dr. Burns goes onto bragg about the MAOIs. He talks about the MAOIs like they are the best thing since sliced bread. The MAOIs are the most powerful antidepressants!!! Give me a break here.
After reading "Feeling Good" I have this to say about it. While some of the CBT ideas are useful, much of it is very oversimplified particularly with regards to severe depression. Id say this book is most useful to those with mild depressions which dont need medications and are mostly situational or environmental based depressions.
All cases of major depression are NOT due to "cognitive distortions." Some are, but some are not.
URCONFUSED
poster:URCONFUSED
thread:1109
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20020829/msgs/1109.html