Sections
Techniques of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Introduction | General Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Methods | Case Formulation | Cognitive Techniques | Behavioral Methods for Symptoms of Depression and
Anxiety | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Methods for Specific Disorders | Conclusion | Key Points | References | Suggested Readings
Excerpt
One of the distinguishing features of cognitive-behavioral
therapy (CBT) is that it is a direct outgrowth of the basic theories
and experimental findings on cognitive and behavioral pathology
in specific psychiatric disorders (see Chapter 6, "Theory
of Cognitive Therapy"). Thus, cognitive-behavioral therapists
implement procedures that are wholly consistent with core theoretical
constructs. For example, the cognitive restructuring and exposure
and response prevention interventions used for panic disorder with
agoraphobia are designed to reverse pathologies of 1) overestimates
of risk or danger in situations; 2) underestimates of coping abilities;
and 3) avoidance of feared situations. CBT methods are also distinguished
by the large amount of empirical data that support their efficacy
(see Chapter 8, "Applications of Individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
to Specific Disorders: Efficacy and Indications"). Many
outcome studies have found positive results for CBT for depression,
anxiety disorders, eating disorders, psychosis, and a variety of
other conditions.