Distinctive activities of cognitive-behavioral therapy. A review of the comparative psychotherapy process literature.
The present review examined the comparative psychotherapy process literature in order to identify the distinctive activities of cognitive-behavioral (CB) treatment. Six techniques and interventions were found to distinguish CB from psychodynamic-interpersonal (PI) therapy: (1) use of homework and outside-of-session activities; (2) direction of session activity; (3) teaching of skills used by patients to cope with symptoms; (4) emphasis on patients' future experiences; (5) providing patients with information about their treatment, disorder, or symptoms; and (6) an intrapersonal/cognitive (C) focus. Identifying the distinctive features of CB therapy can improve the measurement of process-outcome correlations by more accurately specifying and operationalizing the treatment-specific processes of CB treatment, help researchers differentiate between common and treatment-specific factors, and aid in development of more psychometrically sound instruments assessing adherence and competence in CB therapy. In addition, this review can improve training of CB therapists by providing a guide for clinical practice.
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, WAC 805, Boston, MA 02114, USA. mblagys@partners.org
Matthew D
MD
Blagys
Mark J
MJ
Hilsenroth
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations