RESPONSE TO COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN DEPRESSION - EFFECTS OF PRETREATMENT COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION AND LIFE STRESS

Response to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression is varia ble and the factors that account for differences in response are not y et well established. Level of cognitive dysfunction and the occurrence of negative life stress have been theorized as patient variables, whi ch may account for differences in response to CBT The relationship bet ween response to CBT and the interaction of cognitive dysfunction with negative life events was examined in a sample of 53 depressed outpati ents. Overall, there was little support for the prediction of a differ ence in acute outcome between patients with or without pretreatment co gnitive dysfunction and negative stressors.