Cognitive Objectives of Psychiatric Nursing

A cognitive approach to psychiatry is gaining more and more credibility. One of the main proponents of cognitive behavioral therapy was Dr. Aaron Beck, an American psychiatrist, who developed cognitive behavioral therapy in the 1950s and 60s. Cognition is an internal process by which people perceive, remember and judge. This is how they develop an understanding of themselves and the world.

Depression

• A change in how a person views circumstances may help to lift depression.

  Beck's view was that the way a person views events determines how she will react. If a person sees an event, such as losing her job, as her own fault and another failure, this can set up a negative spiral which can lead to clinical depression. An objective for a person with depression would be to break the

  cycle of negative thinking. This may well be combined with other therapies, such as medication, in the case of severe depression.

Anxiety

• Cognitive behavioral therapy is most closely associated with anxiety disorders. A person experiences symptoms of panic or anxiety and finds them distressing and frightening. He fears this happening again, therefore the fear actually triggers further anxiety. A cognitive objective would be to change his responses to anxiety and therefore lessen its power over him. He could also be encouraged to carry out various exercises, perhaps keeping a written account of his symptoms. This could be combined with learning relaxation techniques.

Psychosis

• According to D. Turkington, M.D. (see Reference 3), there is mounting evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy can also be effective in the treatment of psychosis if combined with other therapies. In psychosis, there is a disturbance in the cognition and it may be that some change can be brought about in this.