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CBT myth blown apart at UEA event

Written by News Desk
Friday, 18 July 2008
A University of East Anglia conference has exploded the widespread ‘myth’ that Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), recently subject of a £173 million government grant, is more effective than other types of therapy. A group of leading US and UK psychotherapy experts have joined forces to present data and critical analyses they say debunks the widespread belief in the superior effectiveness of CBT. “The Government, the public and even many health officials have been sold a version of the scientific evidence that is not based in fact, but is instead based on a logical error,” said a joint statement issued to 400 delegates at the conference organised on behalf of the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling. The group claim that three combining factors have helped perpetuate the CBT myth: More academic researchers subscribe to a CBT approach than any other; these researchers get more research grants and publish more studies on the effectiveness of CBT; this greater number of studies is used to imply that CBT is more effective.