negative, which the other therapists sometimes do, they acquire therapeutic tools the depressed can apply on his or her .
own, in case they may find themselves slipping into old patterns of thought or behavior. (Stopa, 2000) Furthermore, .
studies have shown that the results of cognitive therapy are long lasting, with relapse rates much lower than with other .
modes of treatment, including psychiatric drugs. And while medication is sometimes used, at least briefly, to relieve .
intense emotional disturbances and improve receptivity to therapy, most patients can be spared the side effects of drugs, .
which may include the inability to function sexually, upset stomach, difficulty sleeping and difficulty concentrating.(Brody, .
1996) While no one approach to psychotherapy is appropriate for everyone, many thousands of patients have benefited .
from the strategies unique to cognitive therapy. In the 30 or so years since the approach was developed by Dr. Aaron .
T. Beck, a world-renowned psychiatrist at the Beck Center for Cognitive Therapy in Philadelphia, it has become the .
most scientifically tested model of psychotherapy. (Brody, 1996) What is Depression? According to Dr. Judith S. Beck .
and Dr. Aaron Beck, her daughter, "Patients have continual unpleasant thoughts and that each thought deepens the .
depression." However, these thoughts are not based on facts and result in feelings of sadness this is far beyond what the .
situation guarantees, it has to do with hypothetical situations. "Depressed persons make such mistakes over and over," .
Quinn has written. "In fact, they may misinterpret friendly overtures as rejections. They tend to see the negative, rather .
than the positive side of things. Plus they do not check to determine whether they may have made a mistake in .
interpreting events."(Quinn, 1998) Depressed thinking often takes the form of negative thoughts about oneself, the .
present, and the future. The mood in depression is almost always experienced as sad.
