Case Formulation and General Information

Beck, A.T., Dozois, D.J.A. “Cognitive therapy: Current status and future directions.” Annual Review of Medicine,62 (2011): 397-409.

Correspondence Address:
Not Available

Abstract
Cognitive therapy is a system of psychotherapy with a powerful theoretical infrastructure, which has received extensive empirical support, and a large body of research attesting to its efficacy for a wide range of psychiatric and medical problems. This article provides a brief overview of the conceptual and practical components of cognitive therapy and highlights some of the empirical evidence regarding its efficacy. Cognitive therapy (often labeled generically as cognitive behavior therapy) is efficacious either alone or as an adjunct to medication and provides a prophylaxis against relapse and recurrence. © 2011 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.

Beck, A. T. (2005). The current state of cognitive therapy: A 40-year retrospective. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 953-959.

Correspondence Address:
Aaron T. Beck, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, US, 19104-3309, abeck@mail.med.upenn.edu.

Abstract
The basic framework of the cognitive theory of psychopathology and cognitive therapy of specific psychiatric disorders was developed more than 40 years ago. Since that time, there has been continuing progress in the development of cognitive theory and therapy and in the empirical testing of both. A substantial body of research supports the cognitive model of depression and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the various anxiety disorders. Cognitive therapy (CT), often labeled as the generic term cognitive behavior therapy, has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and relapse rates, with or without medication, in a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. Suggestions for future research and applications are presented.(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved)

Chiesa A, Malinowski P. (2011). Mindfulness-based approaches: are they all the same? Journal of Clinical Psychology ,64: 404-24.

Correspondence Address:
Not Available

Abstract
Mindfulness-based approaches are increasingly employed as interventions for treating a variety of psychological, psychiatric and physical problems. Such approaches include ancient Buddhist mindfulness meditations such as Vipassana and Zen meditations, modern group-based standardized meditations, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and further psychological interventions, such as dialectical behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. We review commonalities and differences of these interventions regarding philosophical background, main techniques, aims, outcomes, neurobiology and psychological mechanisms. In sum, the currently applied mindfulness-based interventions show large differences in the way mindfulness is conceptualized and practiced. The decision to consider such practices as unitary or as distinct phenomena will probably influence the direction of future research.

Cook, J. M., Biyanova, T., & Coyne, J. C. (2009). Influential psychotherapy figures, authors, and books: An Internet survey of over 2,000 psychotherapists. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46(1), 42-51. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 42 (3), 202-207.

Correspondence Address:
Joan M. Cook, Yale University, Northeast Program Evaluation Center, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT, US, 06516, Joan.Cook@yale.edu.

Abstract
In a partial replication and extension of a survey conducted 25 years ago (Smith, 1982), over 2,400 North American psychotherapists completed a Web-based survey in which they identified prominent figures in the psychotherapy field who have most influenced their practice and the best psychotherapy books they had read in the past 3 years. There is a continued prominence to leaders of the field from 25 years ago but who are now deceased, notably the top-ranked Carl Rogers. Three books on the top-10 list represent empirically supported therapies (ESTs); two are treatment manuals for an EST, and one is a self-help book derived from an EST that has itself been shown to be efficacious bibliotherapy. Differences between psychologist and nonpsychologist therapists in the choice of influential figures, authors, and books are negligible. Implications are discussed in terms of the contemporary context into which therapeutic innovations are disseminated, as well as the conditions that may be necessary for successful dissemination.(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)

Hofmann, Stefan G., Alice T. Sawyer, and Angela Fang. “The Empirical Status of the ‘New Wave’ of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.” Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Vol. 33, Issue 3 (September 2010): 701-710.

Correspondence Address:
Department of Psychology, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, Sixth Floor, Boston, MA 02215-2002, USA. shofmann@bu.edu

Abstract
“This article reviews the current state of empirical research on the purported ‘new wave’ of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). A particular emphasis is given to mindfulness-based treatments and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Mindfulness-based approaches and ACT are evaluated with regard to their efficacy and comparison with traditional CBT. Deviations from CBT are explained within the context of theory, specifically in terms of the role of cognitions. These differences, however, are not irreconcilable in requiring a separate classification of ‘new wave’ treatments. While subtle and important differences on the theoretical and procedural level might exist, available data do not favor one treatment over another, and do not suggest differential mechanisms of action that warrant a dramatic separation from the CBT family of approaches. Instead, the ‘new wave’ treatments are consistent with the CBT approach, which refers to a family of interventions rather than a single treatment. Thus, the term ‘new wave’ is potentially misleading because it is not an accurate reflection of the contemporary literature.”

Kuyken, W., Fothergill, C.D., Musa, M., & Chadwick, P. (2005). The reliability and quality of cognitive case formulation. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43, 1187-1201.

Correspondence Address:
Willem Kuyken, Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK, W.Kuyken@exeter.ac.uk.

Abstract
Limited research on the reliability of cognitive case formulation suggests cognitive therapists can agree about clients’ presenting problems but show poor agreement about the inferential aspects of formulation. There has been no research examining the quality of practitioners’ case formulations. This study assessed whether participants with different levels of experience could produce reliable cognitive formulations using a systematic cognitive therapy case formulation method: the J. Beck Case Conceptualization Diagram. As part of continuing education workshops on cognitive case formulation, 115 mental health practitioners were given the same case description and asked to provide case formulations. Inter-rater agreement and agreement with a “benchmark” formulation provided by J. Beck were measured. The results showed that participants were able to agree with each other and with the benchmark on most descriptive aspects of the formulation but rates of agreement decreased for aspects of the formulation requiring greater levels of theory-driven inference. Based on definitions and measurements of the quality of cognitive formulations derived in this study, the quality of formulations ranged from very poor to good, with only 44% rated as being at least good enough. Both reliability and quality of case formulations were associated with levels of clinical experience and accreditation status. Implications for training and supervision are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved)

Zinbarg, Richard E., Nehjla M. Mashal, Danielle A. Black, and Christopher Fluckiger. “The Future and Promise of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Commentary.” Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Vol. 33, Issue 3 (September 2010): 711-727.

Correspondence Address:
Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 102 Swift Hall, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2710, USA. rzinbarg@northwestern.edu

Abstract
“The Academy for Psychological Clinical Science and the independent accrediting entity it created, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation system, have recently launched a movement aimed at reforming all of clinical psychology. If this movement is successful, it will result in a greater emphasis on empirical science in the practice of clinical psychology. As cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the approach that currently has the greatest number of controlled scientific studies supporting it, this should be an impetus for CBT to grow. The very same scientific evidence that supports the efficacy of CBT, however, also shows that CBT is far from fully efficacious. Several recent trends that hold great promise to enhance the effectiveness of CBT are discussed, such as greater integration of CBT with biological approaches, cognitive science, systemic approaches, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based approaches.”