Science at the Heart of Psychotherapy: A Review of Three Evidence-Based Treatments

Abstract

Changes in the U.S. healthcare system over the past fewdecades have led to a transformation of the mental healthfield. The demand for accountability and the need for effective,cost-efficient treatments have spurred the movementtoward evidence-based practices. Today, a number of empiricallybased psychotherapies exist that have proven efficaciousin the treatment of a wide range of physical and psychologicaldisorders. Despite the strong evidence base for these treatments,their dissemination and implementation have beenslow. The intention of the present article is to summarize themajor characteristics of three types of psychotherapy (cognitivebehavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy,and dialectical behavior therapy) that have received muchempirical support and have demonstrated applicability to awide range of both mental and medical problems. For eachtreatment, some background information is provided, alongwith the theoretical underpinnings of the treatment, a summaryof the current state of the evidence, and limitations andcriticisms in the literature.