Cognitive Group Therapy for Depression

Treatment

DIAGNOSIS: Depression

TREATMENT: Cognitive Group Therapy for Depression

BRIEF SUMMARY

Basic premise: Aaron T. Beck’s cognitive theory of depression proposes that persons susceptible to depression develop inaccurate/unhelpful core beliefs about themselves, others, and the world as a result of their learning histories. These beliefs can be dormant for extended periods of time and are activated by life events that carry specific meaning for that person. Core beliefs that render someone susceptible to depression are broadly categorized into beliefs about being unlovable, worthless, helpless, and incompetent. Cognitive theory also focuses on information processing deficits, selective attention, and memory biases toward the negative.
Essence of therapy: In cognitive therapy (CT), clients are taught cognitive and behavioral skills so they can develop more accurate/helpful beliefs and eventually become their own therapists.

Cognitive therapy for depression. (2016). Div12.org. Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://div12.org/treatment/cognitive-therapy-for-depression/

TREATMENT RESOURCES

TREATMENT MANUALS

Cognitive therapy of depression. (Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., Emery, G.)

Cognitive therapy in groups. (Free, M. L.)

Group cognitive therapy: A treatment approach for depressed older adults (Psychology practitioner guidebooks). (Yost, E. B.)

Cognitive therapy for depression. In Barlow, D. H. (Ed.), Clinical Handbook of Psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual (Young, J. E., Rygh, J. L., Weinberger, A. D., & Beck, A. T.)

SUPPORTING STUDIES

Beutler, L. E., Engle, D., Mohr, D., Daldrup, R. J., Bergan, J., Meredith, K., & Merry, W. (1991). Predictors of differential response to cognitive, experiential, and self-directed psychotherapeutic procedures. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59(2), 333.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.59.2.333

Bockting, C. L., Schene, A. H., Spinhoven, P., Koeter, M. W., Wouters, L. F., Huyser, J., Kamphuis, J. H., & DELTA Study Group. (2005). Preventing relapse/recurrence in recurrent depression with cognitive therapy: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(4), 647-657.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.73.4.647

Janis, R. A., Burlingame, G. M., Svien, H. Jensen, J. & Lundgreen, R. (2021). Group therapy for mood disorders: A meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 31(1).

https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2020.1817603

Scott, M. J., & Stradling, S. G. (1990). Group cognitive therapy for depression produces clinically significant reliable change in community-based settings. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 18(1), 1-19.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S014134730001795X