TOWARDS A DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPTUAL AND EMPIRICAL BOUNDARIES OF COGNITIVE THERAPY

This article reviews some of the recent conceptual and empirical devel opments in cognitive therapy. It is argued that one of the strengths o f the cognitive therapy tradition has been its focus on the quantifica tion of treatment effects, but that in recent years the development of theory and practice has surpassed the data necessary to provide a fou ndation for these developments. Potential reasons for rapid growth are cited, and some boundaries to research and practice that may emerge a re highlighted. The article concludes with a statement of risks associ ated with too-rapid expansion of theory and practice, and a call for c ontrolled research to substantiate treatment effects.