Dr. Robert Gregory Licensed Psychologist

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been
used successfully to treat anxiety,
sleep disorders, chronic pain
and depression.

CBT is based on the belief that
moods are the result of our
interpretation and perception
of the events that occur in our
lives. It is not the events
themselves but our interpretation
of them that determines our
mood. Our moods, in short,
are controlled by what we think.
People with chronic problems
with depression have distorted
beliefs and perceptions that
promote feelings of hopelessness,
helplessness and feeling defeated.
These beliefs and distortions occur
automatically without a person
being aware of them.
Most depressed people have
several of these overlapping
distorted thought patterns.
Dr. David Burns in his book,
"Feeling Good," identified 10
cognitive distortions:

* All or nothing thinking.
People with this distortion see
things as totally good or totally bad.
There is no middle ground. If their
performance falls short in any way
then they see themselves as a
total failure.

* Over generalization.
If on negative event occurs in our life
then we see it as a neverending
repetitious pattern.

* Mental filter. With this distortion
a person finds a negative detail or
event and dwells on it. They think
about little else. They go over and over
this negative event in their mind until it
fills them with depression and despair.

* Disqualifying the positive. A person
with this distortion will reject any positive
experiences in their life because they are
"just lucky," it won't last, etc. They do
remember and accept every negative
experience in their life.

CBT is based on the belief that people
can become aware of their automatic
thoughts and then train themselves to
think more realistically. Because our
thoughts determine how we feel,
as we think more realistically we will
have fewer reasons to feel depressed.

Studies have shown that 15 to 20
sessions of CBT helped most patients
dramatically. Patients using the drug
Paxil only also showed positive results.
CBT's benefits lasted longer, and there
was less likelihood of a depressive relapse.
Antidepressants were found to reduce
symptoms more quickly.

Readers are encouraged to seek
professional assistance if they
find themselves getting stuck in
the "quicksand" of depression.
The most effective short term
and long term treatment approach
for those who are severely depressed
would include both antidepressant
medications through their primary
care physician of a psychiatrist,
as will as effective psychotherapy
such as CBT.




THE WILSON COUNTY MENTAL
HEALTH TASK FORCE is organizing
this column. Licensed psychologist
Robert D. Gregory is today's writer.