NEW POSSIBILITIES IN COGNITIVE THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION?

Abstract

This article argues for the benefits of a revision of cognitive therapy for depression around two main points. First, compared to recently developeded models for other disorders, our knowledge of cognitive content in depression is out of date and attracting little research, as if there is no more to be learned about what depressed people think and feel. Recent trends to challenge cognitive processes, without addressing the relevant content, might therefore meet with limited success, depending on how the content and processes are linked. Second, re-reading Beck et al. (1979) suggests the importance of exploring the meanings attached to precipitating events, a cognitive strategy that has fallen into the background, is probably used in an ad hoc fashion, and needs to be used more systematically to improve clinical effectiveness.