Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Edited by Jesse H. Wright, M.D., Ph.D.
Series Editors: John M. Oldham, M.D., M.S., and Michelle B. Riba, M.D., M.S.

2004
192 Pages
Editorial Reviews

ISBN 978-1-58562-178-1
Item #62178

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Description
Contents
Editorial Reviews
Contributors
About the Authors

Now four decades old, cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is one of the most heavily researched—and effective—forms of psychotherapy, useful in treating both psychiatric and medical disorders.

In this compact, richly detailed volume, 13 distinguished contributors show how CBT's primary focus of identifying and changing maladaptive patterns of information processing and related behaviors is fully compatible with biological theories and treatments and can be combined with pharmacotherapy to optimize treatment results in clinical practice. In five chapters that illustrate the broadening reach and scope of CBT, these experts discuss

Schizophrenia—Shows clinicians how to incorporate the strengths of CBT into their daily practices for treating patients with schizophrenia. CBT methods (e.g., thought recording, examining the evidence, activity scheduling, graded task assignments, psychoeducation) can help relieve both positive and negative symptoms, reduce the stigma associated with the illness, improve depression and anxiety, and increase social skills.
Bipolar I disorder—Focuses on a concerted effort to educate the patient about bipolar disorder, which helps patients and families develop an early warning system and be prepared with interventions to forestall relapse. CBT methods also teach patients how to reduce common psychosocial stressors and adhere to their prescribed medications.
Computer-assisted CBT—Discusses an exciting new frontier that has already found excellent levels of patient acceptance and can reduce the amount of clinician time required for successful treatment. Using virtual reality and other technologies, computer-assisted CBT enhances therapy by providing interactive methods of learning and rehearsing CBT skills and by illustrating problem-solving methods with multimedia scenarios.
CBT for treating physical illnesses—Details the positive benefits for CBT in many different types of medical disorders, such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. CBT can help change negative automatic thoughts (What's the use?), reduce anxiety and depression, and ultimately help the patient develop adaptive beliefs, identify and mobilize inherent strengths, and maximize healthy behavioral strategies.
CBT for children and adolescents—Reviews the robust effects for CBT in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and depression and demonstrates how these methods can be used in clinical practice. Findings from numerous studies demonstrate that CBT is effective in individual, group, and family formats and can also be used to reduce vulnerability to depression in adolescents who are at risk.

This exceptional volume enriches our understanding of the strengths of CBT and provides new opportunities for helping patients. As such, it will be welcomed by clinicians and students alike.

Introduction. Cognitive-behavior therapy for schizophrenia. A cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment of bipolar I disorder. Computer-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy. Cognitive-behavior therapy for patients with physical illnesses. Cognitive-behavior therapy with children and adolescents. Index.

Jesse H. Wright, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor and Associate Chairman in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Norton Psychiatric Center, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Cognitive therapy has emerged as the premier school of psychotherapy because of its practical strategies, tremendous research support, and broad applicability. Dr. Wright has selected treatment problems that convincingly demonstrate the growing scope of CBT's effectiveness. Readers will garner simple, effective, research-based techniques for helping patients with schizophrenia, patients with bipolar disorder, children, and the medically ill, as well as a mind-expanding overview of the many possibilities of computer assisted psychotherapy.—Bernard D. Beitman, M.D., Author, Learning Psychotherapy, Integrating Psychotherapy Pharmacotherapy; Editor, Self-Awareness Deficits in Psych Patients; Chair, Dept Psychiatry, Univ Missouri–Columbia

This volume spells out in beautiful detail the latest advances in the application of cognitive-behavior therapy, ranging from the severe mental disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar I, to the recent approaches to people with physical illness and children and adolescents, as well as advances in the delivery of cognitive therapy by new technologies. This review, based on empirically supported treatments, is an essential guide for clinicians, instructors, and researchers.—Aaron T. Beck, M.D., University Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In summary, this brief book brings new frontiers in cognitive behavior therapy to the practicing clinician and researcher. It deserves a wide readership among professionals of many disciplines, and it is highly suitable as a vehicle for training psychiatry residents and other mental health professionals.—The American Journal of Psychiatry, 8/1/2006

Wright's volume is welcome for its emphasis on more complex and emergent applications of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) than typically offered in review texts. Those already familiar with CBT will be intrigued to learn how well their skills transfer to applications with schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, people with physical illnesses as well as with children and adolescents. Psychiatrists new to CBT will understand more clearly why this approach has gained so many followers and will be delighted to learn how computers can assist in the delivery of these services.—Christine A. Padesky, Ph.D., Author of Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think

[Cognitive Behavior Therapy] provides an excellent overview of the broadening scope of CBT and highlights the inherent adaptability of CBT strategies to multiple types of psychiatric disorders. The volume presents a good combination of CBT theory, techniques, and review of research outcomes. Each chapter outlines key issues and technique modifications to consider with the respective disorders and client populations. The text will likely prompt interest in empirically supported approaches to treatment of severe psychopathology; CBT for medical patients, children, and adolescents; and novel formats of CBT application. The volume is easy to digest and will be an important contribution to the library of a range of clinicians with the interest in those areas, and CBT more broadly.—The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 8/1/2006