Evidence-Based Therapies
What evidence is there that certain therapies work? How is this evidence managed? In this article, we
take a look at what lies behind the main therapeutPsychology, as a science that seeks to understand and
address human behavior, needs to rely on dependable scientific data to move forward. For this reason,
in recent years, more and more professionals have emphasized the importance of the practice of
evidence-based therapies.
These kinds of psychotherapy are supported by controlled studies that show or question their effects
on mental health. Despite this, not all mental health specialists practice them. As a matter of fact, some
suggest that they’re reductionist.
On the other hand, other critics claim that their results are based on biased data. In this article, we’ll
explore these psychotherapies and how reliable they are.
Evidence-based therapies
The term, evidence-based therapies, emerged to refer to treatments that were shown to be effective in
clinical trials. This means that it’s possible to replicate and test their effects using the scientific method.
Over time, the term began to be used in the field of psychology and psychotherapy.
Hans Eysenck, a renowned English psychologist, published an article on evidence-based psychotherapy
in 1994. In this work, he pointed out that many treatments weren’t demonstrated to be more effective
than the natural remission of the symptoms of a disorder or placebo. Hence, it was important to
evaluate the results of the different available treatments through more rigorous methods.
Since then, it’s been essential for mental health professionals to review the evidence that supports or
discredits an intervention. In this way, they’re able to select the best alternatives and apply them in
clinical practice.
Evidence-based therapies according to the American Psychological Association (APA)
The APA suggests a classification that includes more than 80 different types of psychotherapy. The
classification criterion is the quantity and quality of the evidence supporting these interventions.
Therefore, it’s possible to find evidence-based therapies that are ‘strong’, ‘weak’, or with ‘insufficient
evidence’.
It should be noted that all treatments are classified according to how efficient they are for particular
conditions. This is because it’s not possible to apply the same treatment universally for existing
pathologies.
Next, we’ll look at some examples of evidence-based psychotherapies.
1. Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy for depression
Behavioral activation (BA) for depression is based on the premise that this disorder generates
abandonment of routines and isolation. Its goal is to increase the frequency with which the patient
carries out actions that have rewards. In fact, it could be said that their behavior is ‘activated’, avoiding
lethargy, isolation, and loss of pleasure.
Simmonds-Buckley, Kellet, and Waller (2019) published a review on the efficacy of group BA in the
treatment of depression. Behavioral activation therapy was found to have moderate-to-high effects on
depressive symptoms in adults. Further research indicated that it was also effective in addressing
depression in young people. However, more studies would be needed for this to be conclusive
(Tindall et al., 2017).
2. Cognitive behavioral therapy for depression
Among the evidence-based therapies, the cognitive-behavioral approach is one of the most
recommended. The therapies within this framework are mixed with the principles of behaviorism to
address problems in thought and behavior.
Santoft et al. (2019) published a review on the efficacy of this therapy in depression in primary care. It
was found to be an effective psychotherapy model, recommended for patients with moderate and
mild depression.
3. Dialectical-behavioral therapy for borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder is a condition that causes difficulty in the regulation and expression of
emotions. As a result, different behavioral problems such as self-harm or risk behaviors arise, with the
aim of achieving relief. Dialectical-behavioral therapy is usually the preferred treatment for these cases.
A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a five-week program of dialectical behavior therapy in
patients with BPD. The results showed that the treatment does reduce symptoms. Indeed, the more
that patients improve their emotional regulation, the more they benefit (Probst et al., 2019).
4. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain
Chronic pain is a complex disorder that, in most cases, can’t be completely cured. That said, with
evidence-based therapies, it’s possible to regulate patients’ symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Thus, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a really promising treatment for pain relief.
In simple words, ACT proposes that, by modifying patients’ expectations about pain relief, it’s possible to
make it cause them less suffering. Following along these lines, Feliu-Soler et al. (2018) conducted a
review of the available evidence in this field. They concluded that the evidence is promising, although
more rigorous studies are needed.
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