Generic placeholder image

Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 2666-0822
ISSN (Online): 2666-0830

Review Article

Review and Analysis of thought Records: Creating a Coding System

Author(s): Scott H. Waltman*, Sarah A. Frankel, Brittany C. Hall, Michael A. Williston and Shari Jager-Hyman

Volume 15, Issue 1, 2019

Page: [11 - 19] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/1573400515666190123130725

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Thought records are a core component of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Over time, thought records have been modified to suit various needs or preferences. A diversity of thought records have been developed, which include differing components and cognitive change strategies. Yet, due to a lack of specificity in the literature and field, different thought records are often treated as though they are interchangeable. Limited extant literature suggests that differing thought records may have unique clinical effects. However, meta-analyzing the comparable or differing effects of the distinct extant thought records is impeded by the lack of a coding system for thought records.

Objective: The current study sought to prepare a way for further understanding the differential utility and effectiveness of different iterations of thought records by creating a coding system, which is described in detail. This coding system will be used to guide future research into which thought records work best for which problems.

Method: Thought records were gathered from seminal texts and solicited from the certified members of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and the American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology.

Results: In total, 110 non-identical thought records were gathered and coded into 55 unique combinations. These results demonstrate that the variability of thought records used by qualified therapists extends well beyond those found in seminal CBT texts.

Conclusion: This broad diversity justifies the need for a coding system to inform future lines of research.

Keywords: Cognitive restructuring, thought record, thought log, dysfunctional thought records, daily thought record, socratic questioning, CBT.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Beck AT. Thinking and depression: I. Idiosyncratic content and cognitive distortions. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1963; 9: 324-33.
[2]
Beck AT. Thinking and depression II. Theory and therapy. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1964; 10(6): 561-71.
[3]
Beck AT, Haigh EA. Advances in cognitive theory and therapy: The generic cognitive model. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2014; 10: 1-24.
[4]
Beck JS. Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond. New York: The Guilford Press 2001.
[5]
Waltman S, Palermo A. Theoretical overlap and distinction between rational emotive behavior therapy’s awfulizing and cognitive therapy’s catastrophizing. Mental Health Rev J 2019. [Epub ahead of print]
[6]
Beck AT, Rush AJ, Shaw BF, Emery G. Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: The Guilford Press 1987.
[7]
Persons J, Davidson J, Tompkins M, Dowd E. Essential components of cognitive-behavior therapy for depression. J Cogn Psychother 2001; 15(4): 384-6.
[8]
Bennett-Levy J. Mechanisms of change in cognitive therapy: The case of automatic thought records and behavioural experiments. Behav Cogn Psychother 2003; 31: 261-77.
[9]
McManus F, Van Doorn K, Yiend J. Examining the effects of thought records and behavioral experiments in instigating belief change. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2012; 43: 540-7.
[10]
Padesky CA. Seven column thought record. Huntington Beach, CA: Center for Cognitive Therapy 1983.
[11]
Burns DD. The feeling good handbook. New York: Morrow 1989.
[12]
Josefowitz N. Incorporating imagery into thought records: Increasing engagement in balanced thoughts. Cognit Behav Pract 2017; 24: 90-100.
[13]
Resick PA, Schnicke M. Cognitive processing therapy for rape victims: A treatment manual (Vol 4) Newbury Park, CA: Sage 1993.
[14]
Rudd MD, Bryan CJ, Wertenberger EG, et al. Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy effects on post-treatment suicide attempts in a military sample: results of a randomized clinical trial with 2-year follow-up. Am J Psychiatry 2015; 172: 441-9.
[15]
Stanley B, Brown G, Brent DA, et al. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP): treatment model, feasibility, and acceptability. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2009; 48: 1005-13.
[16]
Wenzel A, Brown GK, Beck AT. Cognitive therapy for suicidal patients: scientific and clinical applications. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association 2009.
[17]
Greenberger D, Padesky CA. Mind over mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think. New York: The Guilford Press 2015.
[18]
Barlow DH, Farchione TJ, Fairholme CP, et al. Unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders: therapist guide. New York: Oxford University Press 2010.
[19]
Cuijpers P, Berking M, Andersson G, Quigley L, Kleiboer A, Dobson KS. A meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioural therapy for adult depression, alone and in comparison with other treatments. Can J Psychiatry 2013; 58: 376-85.
[20]
Ellis A, Harper R. A guide to rational living in an irrational world. Englewood, NJ: Prentice-Hall 1975.
[21]
Waltman S, Sokol L. In Hofmann S, Asmundson G, Eds The science of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy London: Academic Press 2017; pp. 3-18.
[22]
David D, Szentagotai A, Lupu V, Cosman D. Rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and medication in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial, posttreatment outcomes, and six‐month follow‐up. J Clin Psychol 2008; 64: 728-46.
[23]
Bagby RM, Quilty LC, Segal ZV, McBride CC, Kennedy SH, Costa PT. Personality and differential treatment response in major depression: a randomized controlled trial comparing cognitive-behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy. Can J Psychiatry 2008; 53: 361-70.
[24]
Powell VB, Oliveira OH, Seixas C, et al. Changing core beliefs with trial-based cognitive therapy may improve quality of life in social phobia: a randomized study. Br J Psychiatry 2013; 35: 243-7.
[25]
Haeffel GJ. When self-help is no help: Traditional cognitive skills training does not prevent depressive symptoms in people who ruminate. Behav Res Ther 2010; 48: 152-7.
[26]
Waltman SH, Creed TA, Beck AT. Are the effects of cognitive behavior therapy for depression falling? Review and critique of the evidence. Clin Psychol 2016; 23(2): 113-22.
[27]
Waltman SH, Sokol L, Beck AT. Cognitive behavior therapy treatment fidelity in clinical trials: Review of recommendations. Curr Psychiatry Rev 2017; 13(4): 311-5.
[28]
Dimidjian S, Hollon SD, Dobson KS, et al. Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. J Consult Clin Psychol 2006; 74: 658.
[29]
Hawley LL, Padesky CA, Hollon SD, et al. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression using mind over mood: CBT skill use and differential symptom alleviation. Behav Ther 2017; 48: 29-44.
[30]
March JS, Silva S, Petrycki S, et al. The Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS): long-term effectiveness and safety outcomes. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007; 64: 1132-44.
[31]
Iftene F, Predescu E, Stefan S, David D. Rational-emotive and cognitive-behavior therapy (REBT/CBT) versus pharmacotherapy versus REBT/CBT plus pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder in youth; A randomized clinical trial. Psychiatry Res 2015; 225: 687-94.
[32]
Charmaz K. Constructing grounded theory, second edition London: SAGE Publications 2014.
[33]
Leahy RL, Rego SA. In: O’Donohue W, Fisher JE, Eds Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Core principles for practice Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons 2012; pp. 133-58.
[34]
de Oliveira IR. Sentence-reversion-based thought record (SRBTR): a new strategy to deal with “yes, but…” dysfunctional thoughts in cognitive therapy. Eur Rev Appl Psychol 2007; 57: 17-22.
[35]
de Oliveira IR. Trial-Based Thought Record (TBTR): preliminary data on a strategy to deal with core beliefs by combining sentence reversion and the use of analogy with a judicial process. Br J Psychiatry 2008; 30: 12-8.
[36]
Jarrett RB, Vittengl JR, Clark LA, Thase ME. Skills of Cognitive Therapy (SoCT): A new measure of patients’ comprehension and use. Psychol Assess 2011; 23: 578-86.
[37]
Hundt NE, Calleo JS, Williams W, Cully JA. Does using cognitive‐behavioural therapy skills predict improvements in depression? Psychol Psychother 2016; 89: 235-8.
[38]
Strunk DR, Hollars SN, Adler AD, Goldstein LA, Braun JD. Assessing patients’ cognitive therapy skills: initial evaluation of the competencies of cognitive therapy scale. Cognit Ther Res 2014; 38: 559-69.
[39]
Hundt NE, Mignogna J, Underhill C, Cully JA. The relationship between use of CBT skills and depression treatment outcome: A theoretical and methodological review of the literature. Behav Ther 2013; 44: 12-26.
[40]
Creed TA, Frankel SA, German RE, et al. Implementation of transdiagnostic cognitive therapy in community behavioral health: The Beck Community Initiative. J Consult Clin Psychol 2016; 84: 1116-26.
[41]
Waltman S, Hall BC, McFarr LM, Beck AT, Creed TA. In-session stuck points and pitfalls of community clinicians learning CBT: qualitative investigation. Cognit Behav Pract 2017; 24: 256-67.

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy