Family, Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies
Systems and family models, functional analysis, exposure, behavioural change, cognitive formulation, schemas, assumptions and outcome measurement.
How to prepare for MRCPsych Paper B
Integrate clinical formulation, safety and current UK practice with disciplined appraisal of design, bias, estimates and applicability.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Family and systemic therapies understand problems within reciprocal relationships, communication, roles and wider systems rather than locating all causation in one member.
Exam cue: Map circular interaction and feedback instead of selecting one person as the linear cause.
Concept 2
Behavioural and cognitive therapies use collaborative formulation, functional analysis, learning, exposure, behavioural experiments and appraisal of thoughts or beliefs to change maintaining cycles.
Exam cue: State the feared prediction, maintaining behaviour and observable test before choosing a behavioural experiment.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Confusing exposure with unsupported flooding or using reassurance that preserves the feared belief.
Guardrail: Do not choose an option because it is merely familiar or associated; show why it best answers this lead-in.
Treating CBT as positive thinking rather than structured testing of appraisals and behaviour.
Guardrail: Do not choose an option because it is merely familiar or associated; show why it best answers this lead-in.
Memory anchors
What does circular causality mean in family work?
Each person's response influences and is influenced by others in a repeating feedback pattern.
What is a functional analysis?
A structured account of antecedents, behaviour and short- and long-term consequences that maintain or change it.
What makes exposure therapeutic?
Planned engagement with feared cues while reducing avoidance or safety behaviours so new learning can occur.
What is a behavioural experiment?
A collaborative real-world test of a specific prediction using an agreed observable outcome.
What does cognitive formulation connect?
Situations, appraisals, emotions, bodily responses and behaviours within a maintaining cycle.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
A family therapist asks how one person's withdrawal changes another's criticism, which then increases withdrawal. Which concept is being used?
In schizophrenia, which family climate is associated with increased relapse risk?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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