Cognitive reactivity and dysfunctional attitudes in cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic therapy for adult depression.
Frank J Don, Ellen Driessen, Jaap Peen et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial examined whether cognitive reactivity (CR) changes during treatment for depression and whether baseline CR or dysfunctional attitudes (DA) relate to outcome. Depressed adult outpatients were assigned to 16 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or short-term psychodynamic supportive therapy (SPSP). CR decreased significantly from baseline to post-treatment, with a medium effect size, and was associated with lower post-treatment depression levels. DA showed inconsistent associations with outcome. The findings were not specific to CBT, suggesting that CR reduction can occur across both therapies.
Key findings
- Cognitive reactivity decreased significantly by post-treatment, with a medium effect size.
- Cognitive reactivity was negatively associated with post-treatment depression levels.
- Dysfunctional attitudes were inconsistently associated with treatment outcome.
- The observed changes and associations were not specific to CBT; they were also found in SPSP.
Why it matters
The results challenge the idea that reduced cognitive reactivity is specific to CBT and indicate that it may change during more than one form of depression therapy. Its association with post-treatment depression levels also supports further consideration of cognitive reactivity as a prognostic factor, although the study does not establish that changing it causes better outcomes.
What to keep in mind
The abstract reports inconsistent associations for dysfunctional attitudes and does not provide quantitative estimates for the association between cognitive reactivity and depression levels.