A Review of the Treatment and Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Psychological Disorders

Zhenying Li

doi:10.54254/2753-8818/2025.AU28351

Theoretical and Natural ScienceOpen access

A Review of the Treatment and Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Psychological Disorders

Research Article

Open Access

A Review of the Treatment and Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Psychological Disorders

Zhenying Li ^1*

¹ Nankai University

^*Corresponding author: 17709437235@163.com

Published on 23 October 2025

TNS Vol.144

ISSN (Print): 2753-8826

ISSN (Online): 2753-8818

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-441-0

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-442-7

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Abstract

This is a review of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a widely used therapeutic treatment for treating psychological disorders by therapists, which is supported by a large body of clinical evidence. It is a structured approach used to help patients identify and analyze their own misconceptions about reality and change their irrational cognitive problems, thereby alleviating some of the symptoms of psychological disorders. In order to systematically summarize the basic principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy, its therapeutic measures for psychological disorders, and its application effects, this paper analyzed the existing literature related to cognitive behavioral therapy, summarized the core theories and application effects of CBT, and concluded that it has significant therapeutic effects on depressive disorders, generalized anxiety disorder and eating disorders. Also, a follow-up of the post-treatment showed that CBT was also effective in preventing the recurrence of these psychological disorder symptoms. For patients with severe symptoms, treatment should be administered in combination with other clinical approaches, such as medication.

Keywords:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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References

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[2]. López-López, J. A., Davies, S. R., Caldwell, D. M., Churchill, R., Peters, T. J., Tallon, D., ... & Welton, N. J. (2019). The process and delivery of CBT for depression in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Psychological medicine, 49(12), 1937-1947.

[3]. Kendall, P. C., & Peterman, J. S. (2015). CBT for adolescents with anxiety: mature yet still developing. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(6), 519-530.

[4]. Roshanaei‐Moghaddam, B., Pauly, M. C., Atkins, D. C., Baldwin, S. A., Stein, M. B., & Roy‐Byrne, P. (2011). Relative effects of CBT and pharmacotherapy in depression versus anxiety: is medication somewhat better for depression, and CBT somewhat better for anxiety?. Depression and anxiety, 28(7), 560-567.

[5]. Hollon, S. D., Stewart, M. O., & Strunk, D. (2006). Enduring effects for cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 57(1), 285-315.

[6]. Waller, G., & Beard, J. (2024). Recent advances in cognitive-behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED). Current Psychiatry Reports, 26(7), 351-358.

[7]. Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2010). The empirical status of the “new wave” of CBT. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 33(3), 701.

References

[3]. Kendall, P. C., & Peterman, J. S. (2015). CBT for adolescents with anxiety: mature yet still developing. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(6), 519-530.

[5]. Hollon, S. D., Stewart, M. O., & Strunk, D. (2006). Enduring effects for cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 57(1), 285-315.

[6]. Waller, G., & Beard, J. (2024). Recent advances in cognitive-behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED). Current Psychiatry Reports, 26(7), 351-358.

[7]. Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2010). The empirical status of the “new wave” of CBT. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 33(3), 701.

Cite this article

Li,Z. (2025). A Review of the Treatment and Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Psychological Disorders. Theoretical and Natural Science,144,27-31.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICBioMed 2025 Symposium: AI for Healthcare: Advanced Medical Data Analytics and Smart Rehabilitation

ISBN: 978-1-80590-441-0(Print) / 978-1-80590-442-7(Online)

Editor: Alan Wang

Conference website: https://2025.icbiomed.org/auckland.html

Conference date: 17 October 2025

Series: Theoretical and Natural Science

Volume number: Vol.144

ISSN: 2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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