Clinical Trial Comparing Addiction Treatment

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction
The term Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) refers to a short term, goal oriented
treatment for psychotherapy that takes a practical and hands on approach to problem solving.
The chief goal of this treatment is to change the thought pattern as well as behaviours of the
patient which are the reasons behind the difficulties of the clients and thus change the way they
feel (Johnson et al., 2017). In the case of Tom, he has been suffering from anxiety, stress along
with alcohol abuse for which CBT will be appropriate for him. Research has shown it to be
effective in the treatment of panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, and generalized
anxiety disorder, along with other conditions. CBT addresses negative patterns as well as
distortions in the way we look at the world and ourselves.
The evolution of CBT can be traced back to the development in psychology in the year
1913. Behaviourist John B. Watson's research had laid the groundwork for subsequent field
development. There was a technique called behaviour therapy before cognitive behavioural
therapy that at the time of its introduction became controversial (Wolitzky-Taylor et al., 2018).
Extinction, habituations, and counter conditioning have all been discovered with conditioning of
the respondent. In the 1950s, Moral Emotive Behaviour Therapy was studied by Albert Ellis.
The goal was to help patients identify their irrational thoughts. The practice of CBT was first
developed in the 1960s. A stronger psychological problem was clarified by the theories of Beck's
cognitive distortions and Dr. Albert Ellis ' theory of irrational thinking.
CBT is generally used for treating a wide range of issues associated with the personal life
of an individual from sleeping difficulties, relationship issues as well as drug and alcohol abuse
along with anxiety and depression. The mentioned theory works by changing the attitude of the
individual along with their behaviour by focusing on the images thoughts, beliefs as well as

2PSYCHOLOGY
attitudes that are helped and how these process are associated with the behaviour of an individual
along with their ways of dealing with emotional issues.
Considering the fact That CBT is a communication oriented therapy, it helps the
counsellor to recognize the thought process of the patient and thereby understand the thoughts
that are affecting the patient’s feelings as well as behaviour. CBT helps the counsellor to counsel
the patent by using the combination of the cognitive approach that includes examining the
thoughts of the patent with behaviour approach that is, the things that are performed by the
patient (Wolitzky et al., 2018). Considering the fact that excessive stress and anxiety have led
Tom to sexually abuse of women along with alcohol abuse, CBT can be considered to be best
theory for Toms behavioural issue.
In this section of the essay, a detailed discussion of the ethical or legal issues associated
with Tom’s behaviour that needs to be considered, has been discussed. One of the chief
behaviour of Tom that has already imposed impact on both his professional as well as personal
life is his act of sexually assaulting a woman. After getting discharged from the Army and since
the time he has began drinking, Tom has been charged since he had performed sexual assault on
a young woman and as a result of this have already served a short sentence. Considering the fact
that tom is only 25 years old, past history of being a sexual assaulter will make it difficult for
him to obtain jobs. Not only this, in case he is unable to check this behavioral issue of his, he
may be subjected to loner imprisonment that possesses the potentiality to ruin his future. Along
with his professional life, the action of Tom will impose negative impact on his personal life as
well. High risk of having trust issue with his partner is there. not only this, lack of
acknowledgement from society can enhance his anxiety and stress.