Abstract
Cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy have assumed increasing importance in the psychiatrist's armamentarium over the past 20 years as the empirical basis for these treatment modalities has emerged. This scholarly text is a timely systematic overview of the role of cognitive therapy in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders of childhood through to adulthood.
Advances in the aetiological understanding of various psychiatric disorders in the psychological domain are coupled with descriptions of current treatment models and a clear statement of future directions. Cognitive therapy and its interface with cognitive behavioural therapy is briefly explored and methodological advances that can aid theory and practice are discussed. The focus remains on the field of cognitive psychology and psychotherapy generally, which is a necessary limitation, given the focus of the text. However, as I read this book, I could not help thinking through the possible gene–environment correlational and interactional contributions to key cognitive constructs such as ‘verbal self regulation’ (p. 426), ‘biased attention to threatening stimuli’ (p. 401) and ‘negative problem orientation’ (p. 370). Perhaps one or more of these constructs may advance our understanding of key biological and/or environmental variables that act as risk or resilience factors for the onset and progression of key psychiatric disorders?
Some chapters are pedestrian in their exploration of cognitive therapy, while others such as the child and adolescent depression chapter are comprehensive and insightful. In conclusion, this is a quality summary of the field for clinicians and researchers from psychiatric, paediatric, general medical and allied health backgrounds and excellent value for the price.