Cognitive Behvioral Therapy (CBT)

History

Cognitive Behvioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of interventions positing that certain mental disorders and problem behaviours are maintained by maladaptive cognitions (Beck, 1970). The basic CBT model posits that therapeutic strategies chaging these maladaptive cognitions will lead to changes in emotional distress and problematic behaviors. From this basic principle, a large number of condition-specific CBT protocols have been developed over time, with the treatment of anxiety and depression as the most targeted outcomes for this type of intervention (Dragioti et al., 2017).

Description

Currently, core principles of CBT include (American Psychological Association, 2017):

• Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
• Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.
• People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking patterns. These strategies might include:

• Learning to recognize one’s distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then to reevaluate them in light of reality.
• Gaining a better understanding of the behavior and motivation of others.
• Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
• Learning to develop a greater sense of confidence in one’s own abilities.

CBT treatment also usually involves efforts to change behavioral patterns. These strategies might include::

• Facing one’s fears instead of avoiding them.
• Using role playing to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.
• Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
• Learning to calm one’s mind and relax one’s body.

In the database

In the database, the meta-analyses exploring the efficacy of CBT on social-communication include clinical trials conducted among school-age children with ASD without major cognitive difficulties. The interventions are dispensed by a professional at a low intensity (< 2 hours per week) and for a relatively short period (during two to six months).

Additional resources

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