How effective are efficiency studies?: An evaluation in the context of cognitive behavioral therapies

Abstract

The consensus view is that the main goal of a psychotherapy approach is to make changes in dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors. Therapeutic effectiveness, which is defined as "the establishment of causality between the intervention and the emergent changes in target behavior, symptom, or disorder," has been examined via studies of therapeutic effectiveness. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and/or effectiveness studies in terms of their methods, results, and approaches. In addition, we wanted to discuss debates and criticism about these studies in the context of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In this context, the definition of therapeutic effectiveness has been given and then, the measuring methods have been discussed within the framework of effectiveness, efficacy, and meta-analysis studies. Differences in the point of views regarding the results of effectiveness studies have also been examined. The place of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been discussed in the context of mentioned topics. In the conclusion part, the numbers of questions that are thought to contribute to an effective interpretation for therapeutic effectiveness have been proposed. In this context, it is a fact that Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, which is one of therapies most widely used, has been determined as effective on depression and anxiety disorder. The CBT's, prevalence, being a structured method, and studies about its impact on therapeutic change strengthens the evidence of its effectiveness. © 2018, Turkish Association of Nervous and Mental Health.