Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT

FutureLearn

Anxiety and depression are terms discussed widely, in different media and amongst family and friends. But what do those labels actually mean? On this five week course, from the University of Reading, you will explore what it means to have anxiety or depression and how they are identified. The course will also demonstrate the leading evidence based treatment – Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
It’s important to emphasise that this course is not intended to be a self-help ‘treatment’ for anyone experiencing anxiety or depression, nor can it be used to formally ‘diagnose’ yourself or anyone else.

• Week 1 provides an introduction to how we perceive the world around us and how this relates to the Cognitive Behavioural approach to anxiety and depression. It explores how CBT can be delivered and the types of difficulties if can help.
• Week 2 looks at depression within a CBT framework, exploring what depression is (and is not) as well as highlighting commonly held myths and stereotypes around depression.
• Week 3 explores anxiety within a CBT framework. It covers the function and positive role of ‘normal’ anxiety exploring the difference between ‘normal’ anxiety and anxiety disorders.
• Week 4 focuses on how behaviour changes in anxiety and depression, how these changes can maintain difficulties and how CBT techniques are used in therapy to address them.
• Week 5 focuses on ‘cognitions’ or thoughts; specifically the types of thoughts which commonly occur in anxiety and depression, how they maintain difficulties and what CBT techniques are used in therapy to address them.

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

• Describe the key signs and symptoms of depression and identify how a depressive disorder differs from simply feeling low or down

• Describe how a depressive disorder is diagnosed and identify an appropriate assessment tool

• Describe the key signs and symptoms of the most frequently occurring anxiety disorders and identify how anxiety disorders differ from simply feeling worried or nervous

• Describe how anxiety disorders are diagnosed and identify an appropriate assessment tool

• Identify the most common stereotypes surrounding anxiety and depression and evaluate them on the basis of current knowledge

• Describe how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be delivered and identify the types of difficulties that it can help with

• Summarise how what we know about perception (making sense of the world around us) can help us to understand the CBT approach better

• Identify the key components of a Cognitive Behavioural approach to understanding anxiety and depression

• Describe how specific kinds of behaviours and thought pattern can maintain difficulties in anxiety and depression and identify key CBT techniques which are used to address these in therapy

This beginner’s course is aimed at anyone with an interest in mental illness generally, and anxiety and depression in particular. This may include:

• those who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced emotional difficulties,

• family and friends of those who are experiencing emotional difficulties,

• primary (or other) healthcare professionals who have a front line role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to those affected.