Cognitive behavioural therapy was founded by Aaron T. Beck. He developed a structural present-time oriented short-term psychotherapy for depression in the early 1960s.  He dealt with the patient's current problems and changed unhelpful (dysfunctional) thinking and behaviour (Beck, 1964). Over the years, the therapy has been successfully modified and is used in the treatment of various disorders and problems. The term cognitive therapy applies today as synonymous with the cognitive behavioural therapy.

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Treatment:

The treatment is based upon the cognitive (case) concept of a particular disorder, that is, the beliefs and behavioural strategies that make up the disorder (Alford & Beck, 1997).

An understanding of the individual patients underlies the treatment. As a therapist, an attempt is made to make helpflul changes to patients ways of thinking and their belief system.

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Meanwhile there are various forms of cognitive behavioural therapy treatments that differ in conceptualisation and main emphasis.

One of my preferred forms is the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) (Hayes et al., 2004).

 

Selected list, of disorders that have been successfully treated with cognitive behavioural Therapy:

• Mental disorders

• Mood (affective) disorders (bipolar disorders, depressive disorders, depression in old age)

• Agoraphobia

• Social phobias

• Specific phobias

• Other anxiety disorders (panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorder)

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder 

• Hypochondriacal disorder (body dysmorphic disorder, nosophobia)

• Somatoform autonomic dysfunction

• Reaction to severe stress (acute stress reaction, PTSD) and adjustment disorders

• Eating disorders

• Substance abuse

• Personality disorders

• Hyperkinetic disorders (inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity)

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Also with mental problems:

• Relationship problems

• Family problems

• Gambling addiction

• Complicated grief

• Stress in caring for relatives

• Coming-out accompaniment
   

Medical problems with mental components:

• Chronic back pain

• Migraine

• Tinnitus

• Pain by cancer illness

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Chronic fatigue

• Pain in rheumatism

• Erectile dysfunction

• Insomnia

• Overweight

• High blood pressure