Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Abstract

The cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) tradition incorporates a range of psychotherapeutic theories and practices including behaviour therapy, behaviour modification, cognitive therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy, all of which have their roots in learning theories (Rachman, 1997). Within CBT it is assumed that problematic thoughts, feelings and behaviour patterns are learned through the same processes as normal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. These learning processes include operant and classical conditioning and various cognitive processes such as modelling and identification. Therapy involves coaching clients to replace problematic habits with more adaptive ways of thinking, feeling, behaving and interacting with others. This coaching process is based on the principles of learning theory. The small constituent habits that make up psychological disorders are identified through careful interviewing and observation. The personal and situational antecedents, the co-occurring psychological states, and the personal and situational consequences associated with problematic habits are identified. Specific CBT treatment programmes are designed for specific problems and the efficacy and effectiveness of these empirically evaluated. CBT programmes typically include interventions that alter antecedents which signal the onset of problematic thoughts, feelings and behaviour; interventions that challenge non-adaptive beliefs and styles of information processing that accompany problematic behaviour; and interventions that change the consequences of problematic thoughts, feelings and behaviour so that more adaptive alternatives to problematic patterns are developed and reinforced. Evidence from treatment outcome studies provide support for the efficacy and effectiveness of CBT for depression and anxiety disorders (Nathan & Gorman, 2007). CBT is also an effective component of multimodal treatment programmes for bipolar disorder, positive psychotic symptoms, pain management, management of some illnesses, and problems associated with some personality disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder (Carr, 2009).