Cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of depressionCognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a method for correcting invalid thought patterns towards a more positive view of the person and their place in their world. . Some people do not believe that cognitive behavioral therapy is a true treatment for depression, claiming that it is a form of positive thinking ("The Daily Mail", 2009). On the opposite end of the spectrum, others argue that cognitive behavioral therapy should be used in all therapies for depression because it allows the patient to take an active role in their treatment. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy as a viable treatment for depression, either as a stand-alone therapy or in conjunction with other therapies. What is cognitive behavioral therapy? Cognitive behavioral therapy appears to be a new treatment. , although its roots go back to Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy by Albert Ellis, published in 1962. Cognitive therapy assumes that thoughts precede actions and that false self-beliefs cause negative emotions. We now know that most treatments for depression include cognitive components, whether recognized or not. In the 1970s, many psychologists began using cognitive components to describe depression. From there, they developed cognitive forms to treat depression with impressive results (Franklin, 2003).Patterns of Erroneous ThinkingCognitive therapy recognizes ten common patterns of erroneous thinking. “All or nothing thinking” refuses to see a middle ground and is characterized by the use of words such as always, never and forever. This pattern can be recognized by statements such as "I will never pass this course." 'Overgeneralization' brings us... middle of paper ...... to the 'epidemic' of depression in Britain? (March 17, 2009). The daily mail. Retrieved April 12, 2011 from the Daily Mail website: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1162512/Is-Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy-really-answer-Britains-depression-epidemic.html # Leahy, R. (October 30, 2010). The cost of depression. Retrieved April 16, 2011, from www.huffingtonpost.com: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-leahy-phd/te-cost-of-depression_b_770875.htmlMathers, CD (2006). Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. Public Library of Science Medicine, 3(11), e442. April 16, 2011. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030442 McGrath, Ellen. (April 11, 2003). The Rumination Rut. Psychology Today. van den Broek, W. (March 10, 2009). On the way to MoodGym [Blog]. Available April 10, 2011 at http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/index.php?s=MoodGym