An agenda for the next decade of psychotherapy research and practice

Citation

Wood AM & Joseph S (2010) An agenda for the next decade of psychotherapy research and practice. Psychological Medicine, 40 (6), pp. 1055-1056. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291710000243

Abstract
First paragraph: Lynch et al. (2010) provide a fascinating meta-analysis showing that when cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is compared with a psychotherapy or pill placebo control group, CBT is no more effective in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder than other approaches, and is only slightly better at improving depression. This finding stands in stark contrast to the large literature that shows that CBT is effective when compared with waiting-list controls (e.g. Roth & Fonagy, 2005). Rather, the finding is consistent with a now overwhelming body of evidence suggesting that all the main established psychotherapies are equivalently effective (e.g. Luborsky et al. 1975; Wampold et al. 1997; Ward et al. 2000). Whilst CBT works, it does not appear to work better than other approaches. We suggest that the research focus should now move from establishing the effectiveness of any one technique, towards studying what common mechanisms underlie all therapeutic contact. Similarly, we suggest that practitioners should now decide what therapy to practise on grounds other than simple efficacy.

Notes
Output Type: Letter to the Editor

Journal
Psychological Medicine: Volume 40, Issue 6