The third wave of cognitive behavioural therapies: what is new and what is effective?

The purpose of this study was to shortly characterize the evolving psychotherapeutic methods summarized as 'third wave psychotherapies' and to review recent research on the therapeutic impact of these methods.

'Third wave psychotherapies' comprise a heterogeneous group of treatments, including acceptance and commitment treatment, behavioural activation, cognitive behavioural analysis system of psychotherapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, metacognitive therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and schema therapy. Several randomized controlled trials, longitudinal case series and pilot studies have been performed during the past 3-5 years, showing the efficacy and effectiveness of 'third wave psychotherapies'.

The third wave of behavioural psychotherapies is an important arena of modern psychotherapy. It has added considerably to the spectrum of empirically supported treatments for mental disorders and influenced research on psychotherapy. The presented methods open up treatment possibilities for patient groups such as borderline personality disorder, chronic depression or generalized anxiety disorder that had received only little specific attention in the past. The available evidence now allows considering all third wave treatments as empirically supported.