How CBT has proven to be effective

At the beginning of its journey, the sky was not always clear for CBT.

Freudian analysts and other contemporary researchers criticized Beck's theory for its 'superficiality' and pointed out the lack of an evidence base. Pharmaceutical companies, whose profits from psychotropic drugs he threatened, also attacked.

It took time for the evidence base to form.

In 1977, the psychologist conducted trials with patients suffering from depression, which proved that cognitive-behavioral therapy works better than imipramine — the most effective antidepressant of that time.

To date, there are over 200 extensive experiments proving the method's effectiveness for various cases.

Let's cite just a few examples here, showing that CBT is effective for a wide range of psychological problems:

Depression: A 2012 study by Tad Jude and his colleagues found that CBT was effective for 40-60% of patients suffering from depression after 14-16 therapy sessions. In the long term, the effectiveness of CBT continued to increase, reducing the risk of relapse by 50-60%.

Anxiety: In 2018, a study conducted by Norton and colleagues showed that CBT was effective for 46-66% of patients with generalized anxiety disorder. The effects of CBT were stable over a long-term period, with low rates of relapse.

PTSD: A 2014 study by Schneider and colleagues showed that 60-72% of patients with PTSD noted significant improvement after a course of CBT. Moreover, the results were stable over a long-term period.

Panic attacks: In 2017, Barlow and colleagues found that CBT leads to a significant reduction in panic attacks in 60-75% of patients. Improvements remained over the long term, with low rates of relapse.

They say numbers rule the world. No, they just show how the world is ruled.

Johann Wolfgang Goethe

More content in our app

You're only seeing a portion of the content. In the app, you'll find numerous interactive articles. Additionally, there are psychological tests to track your mood dynamics, a daily planner, an automatic thought journal, and much more!

We've discussed what CBT is really good at, but our story would be incomplete without pointing out cases where it should not be the only approach.

If you have a severe mental disorder, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, CBT alone might not be enough; most likely, you will require medication.

And remember:

Do not self-diagnose, only a specialist can understand how serious your psychological problem is.

We always recommend consulting a psychologist, remember, your psychological health is worth it!

Now, hopefully convinced of the effectiveness of CBT, let's move on to the most interesting part - diving into the core concept!