The Lewinsohn Depression Coping Course
We explain one of the most effective programs to treat this mood disorder.
Among the various types of psychological problems that may exist, probably one of the best known is depression.
Not surprisingly, it is the most common mental health problem along with anxiety. It is a highly disabling condition in which the subject maintains a sad mood and/or a loss of the ability to feel pleasure where he/she used to find it, in addition to other problems such as extreme passivity, hopelessness, insomnia or excessive sleepiness, loss of appetite and desire to do things and even suicidal thoughts.
In short, depression is a condition that causes great suffering to the sufferer and is highly limiting. Fortunately, however, depression can be treated with various types of therapeutic strategies. Along with Beck's cognitive therapy, one of the best known and considered to be effective is the so-called Lewinsohn's course for coping with depressionwhich we are going to talk about in this article.
Lewinsohn's course for coping with depression: what is it?
The Lewinsohn Depression Coping Course, also known as DCC, is one of the main and most effective treatment programs for depressive mood disorders and mainly for major depression (for which it is intended).
The CAD was designed by Peter Lewinsohn as a therapy to be carried out in a group way, and in which the role of the professional becomes more of an instructor of the group in which different areas related to the suffering of depressions are worked and trained. It has several versions, dedicated to different sectors of the population, in many of which it has demonstrated its effectiveness.
It is a psycho-educational program, essentially behavioral in nature (although it also works on cognitive elements), with a very clear and defined structure. (although it also works on cognitive elements), with a very clear and defined structure and consisting of a total of a dozen sessions, in addition to another two sessions of support and follow-up after the intervention itself. These last two sessions would be carried out at one month and at six months.
Main components
During the twelve main sessions of which this program consists, as we have already mentioned, various aspects relevant to the treatment and prevention of major depression are worked on. Specifically, there are four main components.
1. Programming of pleasant activities
One of the first aspects to work on and one of the most basic and primordial is the implementation of a program of pleasant activities. The aim is to generate with the subject a series of strategies, guidelines and activities that help to increase the proportion of positive and pleasant experiences and reduce the frequency of aversive ones. The aim is for the person to be able to link their emotions with their actions and to change the latter in such a way that they can gradually modify the former.
In this sense, it is not only a matter of literally programming activities that the subject may find positive and generate pleasure or at least a decrease in anhedonia or discomfort (something that is also sought), but also aims to train aspects such as positive and assertive communication, time management and relaxation..
2. Social skills training
Another aspect addressed in the ADC is interaction and social skills. In this sense, work will be done to facilitate communication and encourage the learning of different strategies, guidelines and skills that allow a fluid interpersonal interaction. In this sense, the group application can be of great help, since it facilitates the use of role-playing and modeling of the different skills..
Aspects such as the defense of one's own rights, thoughts and positions in an assertive manner, the expression of doubts, needs and opposition and various types of interaction with one or several people, usually in increasing order of difficulty, are worked on. This facilitates both the reduction of the discomfort that interactions can generate in those people who have difficulty with them, as well as the expression and work of the personal discomfort of depression itself.
3. Modification of cognitions
Although it is a psychoeducational and primarily behavioral program, the Lewinsohn Depression Coping Course incorporates cognitive elements as well. Lewinsohn's course for coping with depression incorporates cognitive elements as well.. Specifically, and in a similar way to Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy, the third of the fundamental aspects to be treated involves the modification of cognitions and cognitive restructuring.
This phase is characterized by working on the beliefs and thoughts of patients, trying to locate the main cognitive biases present in the thinking of the person with depression. The first step is to identify what the subject's thoughts are, to hypothesize them and try to find possible thoughts and interpretations, in order to subsequently generate behavioral experiments in which the subject can test his beliefs in a controlled manner.
4. Orientation and life plans
The last of the main components of Lewinsohn's course for coping with depression is to review the patient's main basic values, his or her life orientation and the most significant goals and plans for the subject. It is a matter of analyzing each of these aspects and how they converge in the subject's life, how they affect him/her and to what extent he/she is directed towards them.
The presence of intermediate steps in the achievement of one's own objectives can also be observed, as well as the difficulties that may arise.as well as the difficulties that may arise.
5. Clinical usefulness
The Lewinsohn course for coping with depression is a program whose main indication is, as its name indicates, the treatment of major depression and other disorders with depressive episodes.
It is a program that has been shown to be effective in several studies.The treatment is, as we have said, considered to be of great relevance when it comes to treating depression in specific populations. It is effective in adults, children and the elderly, but has been shown to be especially relevant in treating depression in adolescents. In this particular sector it is considered one of the most important psychological treatments for the treatment of adolescent depression. It is also effective in adults, children and the elderly. Although it was designed to be implemented in a group setting, it is also effective in individual therapy.
Although it is focused on the treatment of depression, it is also useful not only when the disorder is already present but also in its prevention. In addition to the subject itself and especially in the case of adolescents and children, separate application to parents has also been observed to be useful.
Bibliographical references:
- Lewinsohn, P. M., Antonuccio, D. O., Steinmetz, J. L. & Teri, L. (1984). The Coping With Depression course: a psychoeducational intervention for unipolar depression. Eugene, OR: Castalia
- Lewinsohn, P. M., Clarke, G. N., Hops, H. & Andrews, J. (1990). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for depressed adolescents. Behavior Therapy, 21: 385-401.
- Pérez Álvarez, M. y García Montes, J.M. (2001). Tratamientos psicológicos eficaces para la depresión. Psicothema, 13 (3).
(Updated at Apr 14 / 2024)