Research Clinics

Yale Depression Research Program | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the Treatment of Depression [HIC# 26807]:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective, short-term, structured form of psychotherapy which focuses on alleviating negative ways of thinking that may be maladaptive. Depressed individuals often have a negative opinion of themselves and tend to have negative interpretations of events as well as negative expectations for the future. These kinds of thought patterns increase an individual's risk of developing or maintaining depression when they experience stressful life events. The use of CBT to alter these cognitive patterns has proven effective in the treatment of depression. This study provides twelve weeks of CBT for the treatment of depression at no cost. It also measures levels of neurotransmitters in the brain before and after treatment by obtaining magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures. (MRS - see above) These MRS measures, as well as other assessments in this study, may help us to understand which individuals are likely to respond to treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

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