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Mechanisms of action of cognitive therapy: The relative contributions of technical and interpersonal interventions

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Abstract

The contributions of changes in cognitions (degree of belief in “automatic thoughts”) and the patient's relationship with his therapist to mood changes occurring during sessions of cognitive therapy were examined in data collected from 17 depressed and anxious patients. Results showed that both changes in automatic thoughts and the patient's relationship with his therapist made independent, additive contributions to mood changes. In addition, two patient characteristics (initial degree of belief in automatic thoughts and diagnosis) made significant unique contributions to mood changes. The stronger the patient's initial belief in his automatic thoughts, the smaller the mood change occurring in the session. Smaller mood changes also occurred in patients with a personality disorder diagnosis. These results suggest that mood changes in cognitive therapy sessions are a function of three types of factors: technical cognitive therapy interventions, the patient's relationship with his/her therapist, and patient characteristics. A multiple regression model with independent variables measuring these factors accounted for 89% of the variance in mood change in the session.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, 399 Laurel Street, 94118, San Francisco, California, USA

    Jacqueline B. Persons

  2. Institute of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, USA

    David D. Burns

Authors
  1. Jacqueline B. Persons
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  2. David D. Burns
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Persons, J.B., Burns, D.D. Mechanisms of action of cognitive therapy: The relative contributions of technical and interpersonal interventions. Cogn Ther Res 9, 539–551 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173007

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173007

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