August 31st, 2010
A recent study published in Behavior Therapy examined the relationship between interpersonal self-concept and global self-worth, and psychotic and depressive symptoms in patients with psychosis. The participants consisted of 83 patients, all of whom had diagnoses on the schizophrenia spectrum, and 33 healthy individuals. The researchers measured each participant’s global self-worth, interpersonal self-concept, dysfunctional beliefs, positive and negative symptoms, delusions, paranoia, and depressive symptoms.
Results showed that (1) Global self-worth is related more to depression than it is to paranoia, (2) the perception of not being accepted by others is more related to psychotic symptoms, (3) individuals who believe that others evaluate them positively have lower levels of paranoia, regardless of their dysfunctional beliefs levels, and (4) negative self-concept (i.e., not being respected , trusted, loved, and accepted by others) is most closely related to positive symptoms, paranoia, and psychosis.
The significant correlation between dysfunctional interpersonal self-concept, dysfunctional attitudes, and paranoia reinforces the formulation-based cognitive approach to delusions and the importance of eliminating dysfunctional self-concepts. The results of this study suggest that cognitive therapy may be successful in treating persecutory delusions and paranoia by focusing on interpersonal and threat-related self-concepts.
Lincoln, T.M., Mehl, S., Ziegler, M. Kesting, M.L., Exner, C., & Rief, W. (2010). Is fear of others linked to an uncertain sense of self? The relevance of self-worth, interpersonal self-concepts, and dysfunctional beliefs to paranoia. Behavior Therapy, 41, 187-197.
Tags: cbt, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, interpersonal self-concept, paranoia, psychosis, Schizophrenia, self-concept
Posted in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, Schizophrenia | No Comments »
August 13th, 2010
AUGUST 2010: Post-doctoral fellows, psychiatry residents, social work interns, nurses, and other graduate students from mental health, medical, and related fields traveled from 20 states and 8 countries, including Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Lebanon, Mexico, Turkey, and United Kingdom. Pictured above-left, Aaron T. Beck, M.D. answers questions from students in the Cognitive Behavior Therapy workshop hosted by Beck Institute.
(Below/Right) Torrey Creed, Ph.D., conducts a roleplay demonstrating techniques in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for children and adolescents. 
Participants received professional training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from Aaron T. Beck, M.D., Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., Leslie Sokol, Ph.D., and Torrey Creed, Ph.D. Trainees participated in seminars and case discussions, reviewed videos of therapy sessions, and observed demonstration roleplays among other activities. More event highlights:
Posted in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Therapy Training for Students, Training | No Comments »
July 27th, 2010
Aaron T. Beck is pictured below with his great-grandson, Robin. Dr. Beck also has a great-granddaughter, Alma.
Tags: Aaron T. Beck, family, Photos
Posted in Aaron T. Beck, Photos | No Comments »
July 27th, 2010
This study examined the effects of therapist competence in assigning homework on the outcome of CT (cognitive therapy) in patients with Cluster C personality disorders. 25 participants underwent 40 weekly, 50 minute, CT sessions that followed the Beck and Freeman treatment manual for personality disorders. The six treating therapists employed three primary techniques: guided imagery, homework assignments that led the patients to try new adaptive responses, and cognitive, behavioral, and emotion-focused techniques to develop new, more adaptive beliefs to replace the pathological beliefs.
The researchers used the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised to measure symptom distress, the mean scores of the 127-item version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems to evaluate interpersonal problems, and the Millon Clinical Multi-axial Inventory to measure personality pathology, as prescribed by the personality disorder scales of avoidant, dependent-submissive, compulsive-conforming, and passive-aggressive. Additionally, they tracked initial symptom improvement after the fourth session using the Helping Alliance Questionnaire. The researchers measured therapist competence in assigning, monitoring, and reviewing homework with the homework assignment subscale of the Cognitive Therapy Scale. This rating is based on the extent to which the therapist reviewed previous homework and summarized progress and conclusions, provided rationale for the assignment and the intended goals, tailored the assignment to the patient’s specific needs, and asked for reactions and feedback from the patient. The researchers also measured therapist competence in agenda setting.
Higher ratings of therapist competence in assigning homework were related to statistically significant improved outcomes on all measures at mid and post-treatment. Therapist competence in agenda setting, however, did not predict treatment outcome at either time. This study is the first to examine the relationship between therapist competence in assigning homework and treatment outcome in patients with Cluster C personality disorders, and the first to find that higher ratings of therapist competence in assigning homework predict greater positive change in symptoms, interpersonal problems, and Cluster C personality pathology.
Tags: agenda setting, assigning homework, Cluster C Personality Disorders, CT, homework, therapist competence
Posted in Cognitive Therapists, Cognitive Therapy | 2 Comments »
July 20th, 2010
Dr. Aaron Beck sends his heartfelt thanks to ALL of you–students, friends, and colleagues from around the world–who sent so many warm birthday wishes to him.
Two students from Romania sent him the following letter and photo:
Happy Birthday Dr. Beck from two students from Romania, Fabian and Alina.
We had the wonderful opportunity to meet you in Boston at the WCBT Congress, and Dr. Judith Beck as well. We also took a few memorable pictures and we would like to send it to you.
We were students of Dr. Daniel David, in Romania and currently we are graduate students in New York. We wanted to congratulate you for your birthday, wish you all the best and assure you of our total appreciation, respect and love. We thank you for everything you are, you did and you mean for thousands of people across the globe and for many, many generations to come.
Thank you Dr. Beck and Happy Birthday again!
Please receive our humble and warmest wishes,
Fabian and Alina Agiurgioaei Boie
Tags: birthday, colleagues, Dr. Aaron Beck, friends, students, thank-you
Posted in Aaron T. Beck | 1 Comment »
July 20th, 2010
1. A meta-analytic review of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder
In this study, Powers et al. conducted a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of prolonged exposure (PE) for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The researchers defined PE using the criteria developed by Foa, Rothbaum, Riggs, & Murdock (1991), including imaginal and in vivo exposure. They analyzed 13 studies with a total of 658 patients. The results of their analysis showed that PE is an extremely effective treatment for PTSD as compared to the control group, though it is not significantly different as compared to other active treatments, such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive therapy (CT), and stress inoculation training (SIT).
2. Therapist competence in cognitive therapy for depression: Predicting subsequent symptom change
In this study, Strunk et al. examined whether therapists’ competence ratings predict patients’ outcomes, including change in their depressive symptoms. The participants were 60 moderately to severely depressed outpatients. Therapists’ competence was evaluated using the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale. The researchers found that competence ratings predicted session-to-session symptom change early in treatment. Competence ratings also significantly predicted evaluator-rated end-of-treatment symptom severity. However, competence ratings only predicted self-reported symptom severity at the level of a nonsignificant trend.
3. Meta-analysis of homework effects in cognitive and behavioral therapy: A replication and extension
In this meta-analysis, Kazantzis et al. used the results of 46 studies to examine homework’s effect on the outcome of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The researchers concluded that homework does increase the effectiveness of CBT.
4. The process of change in cognitive therapy for depression: Predictors of early inter-session symptom gains
In this study, Strunk et al., examined 60 patients with moderate to severe depression in order to evaluate patient and therapist contributions to effective cognitive therapy (CT). Therapist behaviors that predicted improvements included adhering to cognitive methods and negotiating session content. Patient behaviors that predicted improvements included facilitating instead of inhibiting the therapist’s adherence to the structure of the session.
To learn more about the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, click here: http://www.academyofct.org
To see these studies in ACT’s research corner, click here.
Tags: ACT, cbt, homework, inter-session symptom gains, Post-Traumatic Stress, research corner, therapist competence
Posted in Academy of CT, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Therapists, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, Research Results | No Comments »
July 15th, 2010
JULY 2010: Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, professors, school counselors, nurse practitioners, and other professionals from mental health, medical, and related fields traveled from 16 states and 6 countries, including Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe. Pictured above-left, Aaron T. Beck, M.D. answers questions after conducting a live patient session that was viewed (via closed-circuit television) by participants in the Cognitive Behavior Therapy workshop at Beck Institute.
(Below/Right) Aaron T Beck, M.D., pictured with scholarship winners Leila Azarbad, Ph.D., Lyn Abramson, Ph.D., and Aaron Heller, Ph.D. Candidate, who were all granted full tuition scholarships to attend one of our 3-Day workshops. They represent three out of ten winners from our Scholarship Competition held in March 2010, which received over 880 entries from around the world!
Participants received professional training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from Aaron T. Beck, M.D., Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., Leslie Sokol, Ph.D., and Norman Cotterell, Ph.D. Trainees participated in seminars and case discussions, reviewed videos of therapy sessions, and observed demonstration roleplays among other activities. More event highlights:
Posted in Cognitive Therapy Training for Professionals, Training | No Comments »
July 13th, 2010
Dr. Judith Beck recently posted two blogs for the Huffington Post. Both blogs have received quite of bit of attention. In her first, The How and Why of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (posted June 29, 2010), Dr. Beck compares the empirically based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to the psychotherapy often portrayed on TV and in the media. In a follow up blog, Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Myths and Realities (posted July 11, 2010), Dr. Beck addresses common misconceptions surrounding CBT.
Tags: Blog, cbt, CBT myths, Dr. Judith Beck, The Huffington Post
Posted in CT Myths, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Judith S. Beck | No Comments »
July 13th, 2010
Researchers at the Institute of Living and Yale University School of Medicine recently conducted a quantitative review in order to determine whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is superior to other forms of psychotherapy. The researchers did a literature search through September 2007, including references from previous reviews. They selected English-language articles that detailed randomized controlled trials of CBT vs. another form of psychotherapy. At the end of the search, 28 articles involving 26 different studies were analyzed.
Four raters identified estimates of post-treatment and follow-up effect sizes for all of the studies, as well as variables between studies, including type of CBT and other psychotherapy approach, sample diagnosis, type of outcome measure used, and age group. They also rated the studies for methodological adequacy, including use of reliable and valid measures. The main investigators of the source articles were contacted to determine researcher allegiance.
Results showed that, at post-treatment and follow-up, CBT was superior to psychodynamic therapy, though not to interpersonal or supportive therapies. Also, while researchers’ self-reported allegiance was positively correlated with the strength of CBT’s superiority, CBT still held a significant advantage when allegiance was controlled for. CBT’s superiority was evident in patients with anxiety or depressive disorders. The researchers concluded that the results suggest that CBT should be considered “a first-line psychosocial treatment of choice…”.
To read the review, click here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20547435
Tags: cbt, effectiveness, Meta-analytic review, psychodynamic therapy, psychotherapy
Posted in Cognitive Behavior Therapy | No Comments »
July 8th, 2010
Data continues to emerge about the public health and economic burden of insomnia. This data comes from increased health risks including increased utilization of health care and work domain deficits such as absenteeism and reduced productivity. The National Institutes of Health Consensus and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Practice Parameters have made the recommendation that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) be the standard treatment for insomnia. CBT for insomnia is a brief, non-pharmacologic approach that is based on the science of sleep medicine, behavior change, and psychosocial theory. Further, in randomized controlled trials in which CBT is compared to medication, CBT has proven to be comparably effective, with more durable long-term maintenance of gains after treatment is discontinued.
To read the entire article, click here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20451034
Tags: cbt, Insomnia, non-pharmacological, sleep, sleep medicine
Posted in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Insomnia | No Comments »
