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Published on: May 14, 2019
A talking control for use in evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy
Marc Serfaty1, Emese Csipke, Deborah Haworth
1Research Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London Medical School, Riding House Street, London, UK. m.serfaty@ucl.ac.uk
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|June 14, 2011
Summary
A standardized talking control (TC) is effective for evaluating cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in older adults with depression. This control condition is feasible, acceptable, and safe, offering a valuable benchmark for psychotherapy research.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Psychotherapy outcomes are influenced by common factors, yet standardized control conditions are under-researched.
- A need exists for well-defined control interventions to accurately assess treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe and evaluate a talking control (TC) intervention within a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
- To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a TC for older adults with depression in primary care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 204 older adults diagnosed with depression.
- Therapy sessions (CBT and TC) were evaluated using the Cognitive Therapy Scale (CTS) to differentiate common and specific therapeutic factors.
Main Results:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) demonstrated significantly higher overall Cognitive Therapy Scale (CTS) scores compared to the talking control (TC).
- CBT also showed superior performance in specific therapeutic techniques, while both interventions were equally effective in interpersonal effectiveness.
- The talking control (TC) was found to be easily delivered, well-accepted by patients, and posed no harm.
Conclusions:
- The development, standardization, and measurement of a talking control (TC) intervention are achievable.
- A standardized TC serves as a valuable comparator for evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
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