Question

Nadia was diagnosed with depression and was assigned homework to record and keep track of any automatic thoughts she notices in addition to her emotional response to them. When she came into the next session, her therapist analyzed her responses for cognitive errors. What type of therapy is Nadia most likely receiving?

a) Behavior therapy.
b) Psychoanalytic therapy.
c) Cognitive therapy.
d) Humanistic therapy.

Answer 1

Nadia is likely receiving cognitive therapy, which involves identifying and reframing negative thought patterns. This form of therapy is known to be effective for treating depression and centers around altering automatic thoughts to improve emotional responses as per Aaron T. Beck's methodologies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nadia is most likely receiving cognitive therapy. This form of therapy involves the identification and analysis of automatic thoughts and cognitive errors, which are common targets in the treatment of depression. Cognitive therapy, developed by Aaron T. Beck, is focused on helping individuals recognize and reframe negative thought patterns to improve emotional regulation and develop healthier cognitive processes.

Cognitive therapy has been shown to be effective through numerous studies, such as the one by DeRubeis et al. (2005), which found cognitive therapy to be an effective treatment for moderate to severe depression. Beck's cognitive model of depression emphasizes the neurobiological correlates and evolution of cognitive distortions that contribute to emotional disorders.

The process of recording automatic thoughts and emotional responses is a typical homework assignment in cognitive therapy, aiming to create awareness and subsequently challenge and modify these thoughts. Therapists not only consider the thought content but also the resultant behaviors and mood alterations, leading to a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral approach as depicted in Figure 1.16.