Effectiveness Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely researched forms of psychotherapy. Most experts consider cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to be highly effective as it is commonly identified as the first evidence-based psychotherapy according to most clinical guidelines.

Subtopics

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Effectiveness Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

“CBT is a type of psychological therapy or talking therapy which has proved more effective in treating various psychiatric conditions than other types of therapies or medications,” explains Mind Help. CBT is a psychosocial intervention which can help individuals to replace negative and unhelpful thought & behavior patterns with more positive ones. It can also help to improve our emotions ¹ , mood and mental health issues. Initially developed as cognitive therapy for depression by psychiatrist Aaron Beck in the 1960s, CBT is also influenced by Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) developed by psychologist Albert Ellis in the 1950s. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can be recommended to children, adolescents, adults and older adults.

It can effectively be used for the treatment of various psychological conditions, like depression ² , anxiety disorders ³ , PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, antisocial behaviors, substance use disorder ⁴ etc. CBT can also help to improve non-psychological conditions and situations such as, loss or grief, relationship problems ⁵ , insomnia, stress, migraines ⁶ , irritable bowel syndrome ⁷ , chronic pain ⁸ , chronic fatigue syndrome ⁹ and distress related to general medical conditions. CBT can also drastically improve functioning and quality of life ¹⁰ , according to studies ¹¹ .

Read More About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Here

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is The “Gold Standard”

A recent 2018 research ¹² reveals that according to numerous studies cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can be considered as the “gold standard of the psychotherapy field,” even though some experts may disagree. However, the researchers believe that CBT can be considered as the best standard available in the field at the moment. “Pointing to the available evidence, CBT is usually considered the gold standard for the psychotherapeutic treatment of many or even most mental disorders,” states a 2017 study. Moreover, according to the Division 12 Task Force on Psychological Interventions of the American Psychological Association, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques are listed as the only treatment with “strong research support” in around 80% of psychiatric disorders ¹³ in the listing.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is mostly considered the gold-standard of psychotherapy primarily due to the following factors –

CBT has been extensively researched and studied and it indicates that this type of psychotherapy is usually effective.
CBT is integrated into the larger mainstream information processing paradigm.
Currently, no other form of psychotherapy has more support from research and studies to validate their fundamental constructs.
CBT has been found to be systematically better and more effective than other psychological treatments.
CBT mechanisms and models of change have been found to be in accordance with accepted paradigms of human mind and behavior.
CBT is integrated into the wider field of science, such as cognitive neurogenetics.
CBT is constantly evolving based on both critical and cumulative research.

The researchers of the recent 2018 study state “CBT dominates the international guidelines for psychosocial treatments, making it a first-line treatment for many disorders, as noted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines and American Psychological Association. Therefore, CBT is, indeed, the gold standard in the psychotherapy field.” However, there is still scope for further improvement as in certain situations patients may not respond to cognitive behavioral therapy techniques or may relapse.

Efficacy Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques

Numerous studies point towards the increasing use and efficacy of CBT over other approaches of psychotherapy or methods of treatment. Growing evidence suggests that CBT is one of the most effective treatment options for different mental health conditions and issues. Moreover, as the treatment is relatively of shorter duration, more patients are encouraged to stick to the treatment plan. Although some experts claim that CBT acts a “quick fix” and oversimplifies the issues, research shows that this form of psychotherapy can be considered as the best treatment for several psychiatric disorders. Here are a few reasons why CBT is widely recommended for most conditions:

1. CBT is highly satisfactory

A 2013 study ¹⁴ analyzed a heterogeneous population of patients treated with CBT to evaluate symptom reduction and level of satisfaction. The study found that this form of therapy can be effective even when conducted by “less experienced trainee therapists.” The researchers observed a statistically remarkable decrease in symptoms, improvement in the condition, enhanced satisfaction with life and overall patient satisfaction with the therapy. It was found that not only the patients were “very pleased with the therapy,” the therapists “were, to a great extent, satisfied with the treatment process itself.”

2. CBT can cure different conditions

According to a 2012 meta-analysis ¹⁵ on the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, this form of therapy can be recommended as the first-line intervention for different mental disorders. “Our review of meta-analytic studies examining the efficacy of CBT demonstrated that this treatment has been used for a wide range of psychological problems. In general, the evidence-base of CBT is very strong, and especially for treating anxiety disorders,” explains the scientific review. Around 269 meta-analytic reviews analyzed by the researchers showed that CBT can be beneficial for a range of mental health issues, including –

Anxiety disorders
Depression and dysthymia
Bipolar disorder
General stress
Schizophrenia
Substance use disorder
Somatoform disorders
Personality disorders
Eating disorders
Criminal behaviors
Anger and aggression
Chronic pain and fatigue
Insomnia
Distress related to pregnancy complications
Distress due to general medical conditions
Female hormonal conditions

Another 2018 review ¹⁶ which analyzed 41 studies found that CBT can significantly help to improve symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders. The therapy was found to be most effective for stress, anxiety and OCD. Research ¹⁷ conducted in 2010 indicates that CBT can also be helpful in treating mood disorders like depression. “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious in the acute treatment of depression and may provide a viable alternative to antidepressant medication (ADM) for even more severely depressed unipolar patients when implemented in a competent fashion,” explain the researchers. CBT can even help to reduce relapse after treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques are also effective for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) according to another 2017 study ¹⁸ . An analysis of 43 OCD patients revealed that CBT also helped to improve brain function in respect to coping with and preventing compulsions. Evidence ¹⁹ also shows that is an effective option for overcoming substance use disorders and also helps in reducing relapse after treatment.

3. CBT is most effective for treating anxiety

According to a 2018 study ²⁰ , long-term outcomes for group CBT (GCBT) and individual CBT (ICBT) for social anxiety disorder (SOP), separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were found to be effective. The study states “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has demonstrated favorable long-term outcomes in youth with anxiety disorders in efficacy trials.” Another 2019 study ²¹ on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for child and adolescent anxiety disorders (AD) found that individual-based CBT and family-based CBT showed favorable outcomes. According to the researchers “Eighty-one studies were included, with 3386 CBT participants and 2527 control participants. The overall results indicated that CBT is an effective treatment for childhood AD.”

However, a 2010 study ²² found that although “CBT is effective for a range of psychiatric disorders,” it is superior to alternative therapies “only among patients with anxiety or depressive disorders.” The findings of the study suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can be regarded as the first-line psychosocial treatment for patients with anxiety and depressive disorders ²³ , as efficacy of CBT in other mental health conditions may require further research.

4. CBT is helpful in personality disorders (PDs)

Research ²⁴ supports that CBT is an effective treatment approach for “reducing symptoms and enhancing functional outcomes among patients with” personality disorders (PDs) as well. CBT methodologies focus on various practical goals, like skills training, learning-based procedures and homework assignments which help to cope with social dysfunction problems, prevent self-defeating behaviors and promote better living among patients with PDs. The researchers add “CBT approaches emphasize the connection between implicit, automatic thoughts and their underlying schemas, which are widely thought to be dysregulated and maladaptive in PDs.”

5. CBT can help with insomnia

Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can prove to be effective for treating chronic insomnia, which affects around 6-10% of general people. According to a 2013 study ²⁵ , cognitive behavioral treatment of insomnia (CBTi) focuses on improving specific associations, cognitions and behaviors. It has proven to be effective on different types of patients, particularly the ones with psychological and medical comorbidities. The study explains “CBTi offers effective treatment of comorbid insomnia and represents a particularly attractive treatment option because it does not carry some of the risks associated with medications (eg, dependency, polypharmacy, cognitive and psychomotor impairment).”

Multiple studies ²⁶ have found CBTi to be highly effective for people with sleep disorders which impaired their daily functioning. A 2015 study ²⁷ found that CBTi is even “effective for the treatment of adolescents with insomnia.”

Read More About Insomnia Here

6. CBT can improve cognitive function

Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques have also been found to be linked with better cognitive control network activity in major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), revealed a 2017 study ²⁸ . This suggests that CBT helps to improve cognitive function in patients with MDD and PTSD. The study explains “we provided evidence that activation of cognitive control regions is similarly enhanced following treatment with CBT in both MDD and PTSD.”

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques Are Effective

Although CBT may not completely cure a disorder, it can certainly relieve the symptoms and empower the patient to cope with their condition or situation in a better, healthier way. This short-term therapy can be a helpful choice of treatment for a wide array of psychological conditions. However, it is important that you consult a licensed and certified therapist or mental health professional experienced with CBT for the best results.

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