The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Depression: The Role of Problem-Solving Appraisal

Abstract

Objective: Many studies have confirmed the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for depression. However, the mechanism of CBT for depression reduction is still not well understood. This study explored the mechanism of CBT from the perspective of individuals’ problem-solving appraisal. Method: A one-group pretestposttest design was used. Results were based on the responses of 30 depressed individuals in an intensive outpatient program. Results: Findings supported the research hypothesis that the more individuals improved their problem-solving appraisal, the more their depression decreased. Additionally, it was discovered that the poorer individuals’ problem-solving appraisal before the CBT, the more improvement they had on depression and problem solving appraisal after the CBT. Conclusions: In sum, findings suggested that problem-solving appraisal might play an important part in CBT for depression reduction. Furthermore, CBT seemed to have a ceiling effect on improving individuals’ problem-solving appraisal.