This study was designed to determine whether a physician-delivered bibliotherapy prescription would compare favorably with the prevailing usual care treatment for depression in primary care (that often involves medication) and potentially offer an alternative. Six family physicians were trained to write and deliver prescriptions for cognitive-behavioral bibliotherapy. Thirty-eight patients were randomly assigned to receive either usual care or a behavioral prescription to read the self-help book, Feeling Good (Burns, D. D. (1999). Feeling good: The new mood therapy. New York: HarperCollins). The treatment groups did not differ in terms of overall outcome variables. Patients in both treatment groups reported statistically significant decreases in depression symptoms, decreases in dysfunctional attitudes, and increases in quality of life. Although not statistically significant, the mean net medical expenses in the behavioral prescription group were substantially less. This study provided empirical evidence that a behavioral prescription for Feeling Good may be as effective as standard care, which commonly involves an antidepressant prescription.
Chapter 1: CBT is premised on the view that moods are created by your cognitions or thoughts. There are three assumptions therein: 1) you feel the way you do right now because of the thoughts you are thinking; 2) when you are feeling depressed your thoughts are dominated by the pervasive negativity; and 3) negative thoughts contain gross distortions.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
One last statement before we get to the books. Why anxiety and depression together? Well, because they often occur together. In fact, they occur so often together that people will mistake one for the other. A close friend of mine recently spent the better part of a year constantly complaining of anxiety and stress. After a couple of months of therapy, she discovered that she had actually been deeply depressed. Similarly, I felt depressed for a brief period at the beginning of this year and looking back, it turns out I was incredibly anxious about something in my life and the feelings of lethargy/meaninglessness were merely my ways of escaping that anxiety.
We now have a large body of research data and clinical experience which suggests that people can learn to control painful mood swings and self-defeating behavior through the application of a few relatively simple principles and techniques. The promising results of this investigation have triggered interest in cognitive theory among psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals. Many writers have viewed our findings as a major development in the scientific study of psychotherapy and personal change. The developing theory of the emotional disorders that underlies this research has become the subject of intensive investigations at academic centers around the world.
Cognitive therapy is a fast-acting technology of mood modification that you can learn to apply on your own. It can help you eliminate the symptoms and experience personal growth so you can minimize future upsets and cope with depression more effectively in the future.
2. Understanding: A clear explanation of why you get moody and what you can do to change your moods. You will learn what causes your powerful feelings; how to distinguish normal from abnormal emotions; and how to diagnose and assess the severity of your upsets.
Let me illustrate this. How have you been feeling as you read this? You might have been thinking, Cognitive therapy sounds too good to be true. It would never work for me. If your thoughts run along these lines, you are feeling skeptical or even discouraged. What causes you to feel that way? Your thoughts. You create those feelings by the dialogue you are having with yourself about this book!
If your score was above 50, it indicates your depression is severe or even extreme. This degree of suffering can be almost unbearable, especially when the score is increased above 75. Your moods are apt to be intensely uncomfortable and possibly dangerous because the feelings of despair and hopelessness may even trigger suicidal impulses.
Dr. Rhonda Barovsky practices in Walnut Creek, California. Shesees clients via Zoom, and in her office. She can be reachedat rhonda@feelinggreattherapycenter.com. She is a Level 4 CertifiedTEAM-CBT therapist and trainer and specializes in the treatment oftrauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. Check outher new website: www.feelinggreattherapycenter.com.
This article will offer some suggestions for overcoming the thoughts and feelings associated with a poor body image that may be preventing you from participating more fully in life. The suggestions include change strategies from cognitive behavior therapy and acceptance strategies from dialectical behavior therapy. 2ff7e9595c
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