Psychology 9-1 GCSE - 

3.1.7 - The use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a treatment, including strengths and weaknesses of each therapy:

CBT replaced psychoanalysis as the best overall treatment for anxiety disorders such as OCD. People can be predisposed to developing these kinds of disorders if they have a natural tendency to overdramatacise the consequences of their actions. People give into doing these repetitive actions as a result of intrusive thoughts. The first part of CBT deals with the cognitive side of things which includes rationalising the irrational thoughts and fears that cause the intrusive thoughts. The second, behavioural part of the therapy includes techniques such as exposure therapy to help the patient get out of their behaviour.

a) Depression -

Strengths -

• Patients can continue to use techniques used during their CBT course after they've finished it.
• CBT will also deal with the causes of their behaviour, which makes being able to manage it a lot easier.

Weaknesses - 

• It can take weeks, even months of CBT before symptoms start to alleviate.
• CBT is not a permanent thing or very long lasting, it most of the time only lasts a few months and there is always a chance of patients falling of track after it ends.

b) Addiction - 

Strengths - 

• CBT deals with the cause of behaviours, which is very helpful for addiction as soberness relies on being able to stop the pain that caused you to need to alleviate it in the first place.
• It also looks at patterns of thought and repetitive feelings and helps you deal with them in a realistic way.

Weaknesses - 

• CBT is being slowly replaced by other therapies that deal with mindfulness and general life improvements.