EFFECTIVENESS OF TARGETING THE VULNERABILITY FACTORS OF DEPRESSION INCOGNITIVE THERAPY

I. H. Gotlib and C. L. Hammen's (1992) psychopathology model of depres sion was used as a conceptual framework for studying the process of ch ange in an effective course of cognitive therapy (CT) for depression. Archived CT transcripts from 30 depressed outpatients in the Cognitive -Pharmacotherapy Treatment project (S. D. Hollon et al., 1992) were st udied. An observational coding system was used to assess whether thera pists focused on the cognitive, interpersonal, and developmental vulne rabilities of depression and whether these interventions were associat ed with symptom reduction. Therapists maintained a primarily cognitive focus, but it was interventions that addressed the interpersonal and developmental domains that were associated with improvement. A develop mental focus also predicted a longer time of recovery and better globa l functioning over the 24-month follow-up period. These findings are c onsistent with recent theoretical developments in cognitive therapy an d with the psychopathology research on depression.