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Cognitive and behavioural therapies

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Personality disorders

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To understand borderline personality, imagine having no history

For people with an unfairly stigmatised mental health condition, and the rest of us, it’s vital to connect past with present

by Alexander Kriss

Person with curly hair eating a slice of pizza, with a background of blurred lights and greenery.

Emerging therapies

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The reason little noises drive you mad is about more than sounds

Fascinating research into ‘misophonia’ – an intolerance to specific sounds – is revealing an important role for context

by Nathaniel Scharping

A close-up of wilted orange flowers with drooping stems in a black vase against a blurred brown background.

Depression

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What’s going on in depression to make negative beliefs so sticky?

Understanding why negative views persist in the face of contradictory evidence could help inform depression treatment

by Tobias Kube

Bronze bust of a bearded man with curly hair, likely an ancient artefact, on a black background.

Emotion regulation

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The Stoics were right – emotional control is good for the soul

Both neuroscience and psychotherapy agree that you can change your mental framework as the Stoic Marcus Aurelius described

by István Darabán

A man stands next to a painting of Jesus carrying the cross, with reflections visible on a glass surface beside him.

Self-harm and suicide

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Why religious belief provides a real buffer against suicide risk

Under-recognised as a protective force against suicide, religious faith has multiple features that help to save lives

by David H Rosmarin

Bas-relief showing scenes of interrogation and torture, featuring restrained figures and text describing the use of plastic bags and water dunking to terrify victims.

Cognitive and behavioural therapies

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CBT is the ‘gold standard’, but is that just for white people?

CBT is supported by a strong evidence base. However, effective cultural adaptation of the therapy is a work in progress

by Shayla Love

A person’s shadow is cast in overlapping red, yellow and blue on a pink and blue wall. The shadow highlights their face and shoulder.

Psychotherapy

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Psychotherapy under the microscope: how exactly does it work?

To improve psychotherapy, researchers are looking beyond what happens in a session to learn exactly how change is achieved

by Ciarán O’Driscoll

Impressionist painting of a figure standing by the sea, observing a distant boat. The scene is enveloped in blue tones with a serene, misty atmosphere.

Cognitive and behavioural therapies

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The philosophical roots of CBT help explain its limitations

Not all psychological problems are thinking problems. Trying to solve them purely cognitively, with CBT, won’t help us mature

by Bradley Murray

A crying child with blonde hair and a striped shirt sits on a pavement next to parked cars in an urban setting.

Trauma and PTSD

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PTSD looks different in young children – but it’s still treatable

When tantrums and other changes indicate post-traumatic dysfunction, specialised therapy could help children with PTSD

by Caitlin Hitchcock

Two people sit in a grassy field, seen from behind: a white man with white hair and beard, and a Black man in a patterned shirt and hat.

Self-harm and suicide

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When all looks bleak, hopebuilding strategies offer a lifeline

Hopelessness is a major link in the chain that leads to suicide. Strategies to nurture hope are key in the prevention toolkit

by Kathryn Gordon

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Cognitive and behavioural therapies

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Can a short behavioural boot camp really grind anxiety to dust?

It’s a bumpy ride and won’t probe the origins of past trauma. But intensive CBT can reduce debilitating anxiety in days

by Elizabeth Svoboda

A woman sits by a window, her eyes cast down and her hair obscuring her face, with light illuminating the background.

Difficult emotions

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A new approach to therapy promises to tackle neuroticism head-on

Therapy often focuses on symptoms of specific disorders. Targeting a high-risk personality trait could be more efficient

by Shannon Sauer-Zavala