Which cognitive distortions and CBT targets are typical in mood and anxiety disorders?

Which cognitive distortions and CBT targets are typical in mood and anxiety disorders?

• A. Denying the existence of distress
• B. Only pharmacotherapy helps
• C. Meditation with no cognitive work
• D. Distortions like catastrophizing, overgeneralization, and all-or-nothing thinking maintain anxiety and depressive symptoms; CBT targets restructuring these thoughts and reinforcing adaptive behaviors.

Answer: (D)

CBT for mood and anxiety disorders centers on how distorted thinking fuels distress. Distortions like catastrophizing (expecting the worst), overgeneralization (making broad conclusions from one event), and all-or-nothing thinking (seeing things as black or white) keep symptoms going by biasing how you interpret situations. The key CBT move is to identify these automatic thoughts, examine the evidence for and against them, and replace them with more balanced, realistic interpretations. This cognitive work is paired with behavioral strategies that reinforce adaptive actions, helping reduce symptoms over time. Other options miss this cognitive focus. Denying distress reflects avoidance rather than directly addressing distorted thinking. Relying on pharmacotherapy alone doesn’t teach the cognitive skills CBT targets. Meditation without cognitive work lacks the active restructuring of thoughts that CBT emphasizes.

CBT for mood and anxiety disorders centers on how distorted thinking fuels distress. Distortions like catastrophizing (expecting the worst), overgeneralization (making broad conclusions from one event), and all-or-nothing thinking (seeing things as black or white) keep symptoms going by biasing how you interpret situations. The key CBT move is to identify these automatic thoughts, examine the evidence for and against them, and replace them with more balanced, realistic interpretations. This cognitive work is paired with behavioral strategies that reinforce adaptive actions, helping reduce symptoms over time.

Other options miss this cognitive focus. Denying distress reflects avoidance rather than directly addressing distorted thinking. Relying on pharmacotherapy alone doesn’t teach the cognitive skills CBT targets. Meditation without cognitive work lacks the active restructuring of thoughts that CBT emphasizes.