Changes in Cognitive Errors Over the Course of Cognitive Therapy for Depression

Abstract

Cognitive therapy (CT) aims to treat major depression symptomatology by restructuring the patients’ cognitive distortions to more adaptive thinking patterns. This study examined changes in cognitive errors (CEs) as patients undergo CT for depression. Forty-five participants were assessed at early and late therapy for CEs using the Cognitive Errors Rating System (Drapeau, Perry, & Dunkley, 2008) and for depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). Although the total number of CEs did not change from early to late therapy, negative CEs significantly decreased, and positive CEs increased. Recovered participants had fewer total CEs, negative CEs, and negative overgeneralization than nonrecovered participants. Depressive symptoms were inversely related to late therapy positive CEs among the nonrecovered participants. Research and clinical implications are discussed.