The effects of the psychoeducation on cognitive distortions, negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional attitudes of patients diagnosed with depression

Abstract

ABSTRACT There are many studies showing a positive relationship between depression level and cognitive distortions in the literature. The study was carried out to determine the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy–based psychoeducation on cognitive distortions, negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional attitudes of patients diagnosed with depression. This study was designed as a two-group pre-posttest study. The study sample composed of a total of 60 patients (30 patients in the treatment group and 30 patients in the control group) who met the eligibility criteria. The data have been collected by using The Personal Information Form, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale and Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale. Psychoeducation was provided in the form of individual training once a week in total of eight sessions. For the pretest, assumption and schemas that make people predispose to depression, dysfunctional attitudes and cognitive distortions in interpersonal relationships were seen frequently to be above average in all patients. It was determined that patients in the treatment group used significantly less dysfunctional attitudes and to had lower negative automatic thoughts and interpersonal cognitive distortions compared with patients in the control group in posttest (p < 0.05). Consequently, cognitive behavioral therapy–based psychoeducation has become considerably effective in decreasing the use of negative automatic thoughts, interpersonal cognitive distortions and dysfunctional attitudes in patients with depression. cognitive behavioral therapy–based psychoeducation should be thought of as a treatment component due to its effectiveness in nursing care of depressed patients.