Cognitive and behavioral therapies

Abstract

For longer than 40 years, the cognitive and behavioral therapies have evolved as alternatives to more traditional nondirective and insight-oriented modes of psychotherapy (1). The cognitive and behavioral therapies now include a diverse group of interventions that share several pragmatic and theoretical assumptions. First, there is an emphasis on psychoeducation: patients are assumed to be capable of learning about their disorder and the interventions they will need to treat it. Second, homework and self-help assignments are usually recommended to provide patients the opportunity to practice therapeutic skills and to generalize positive behaviors outside of the therapy hour. Third, treatment is based on the objective assessment of psychiatric symptoms and selection of therapeutic strategies derives logically from such assessments. Fourth, the therapeutic methods used are generally structured, directive, and characterized by a high level of therapist activity. Fifth, for most disorders, the cognitive and behavioral therapies are time-limited interventions. Sixth, these therapies are based on empirical evidence that validates and guides the choice of therapeutic techniques: learning theory (i.e., classical, operant, and observational models of learning) and the principles of cognitive psychology. © 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.