Cognitive Processing Therapy
- LAST MODIFIED: 24 February 2021
- DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195389678-0297
- LAST MODIFIED: 24 February 2021
- DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195389678-0297
Introduction
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a method of cognitive-behavioral treatment used for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This intervention was created in the 1980s and has been proven to be effective across differing populations such military veterans, sexual assault survivors, emergency service workers, survivors of child abuse, and others who suffer from PTSD or PTSD symptoms. CPT is typically a twelve-session therapy intervention where each session lasts fifty minutes. It can be used in individual therapy, a group setting, or a combination of the two. CPT is based on the social cognitive theory and focuses on repairing the negative experiences and thoughts stemming from the experienced trauma causing PTSD. CPT is evidence-based treatment that challenges cognitive distortions regarding trauma but also assists in dealing with any cognitive distortions, including future traumas. The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies fully endorse CPT and suggest it as a first-line therapy for PTSD. However, further research is still needed for evaluation when patients who have co-occurring morbidities such as substance abuse disorders, which may prevent them from fully engaging in the treatment process, such as homework completion. The first phase of cognitive processing therapy is educational: providing education on PTSD as well as the thoughts and emotions that stem from their trauma. The second phase focuses on the formal processing of the trauma. During this phase, the therapist often uses Socratic questioning to explore complex issues and encourage the client to think differently about their trauma based upon their own conclusions and perspectives. Through this, the clinician is able to help the client focus on changing their beliefs of self-blame. The final phase focuses on fortifying the new thoughts from the previous phase and focuses on building upon safety, trust, power and control, esteem, and intimacy.
Introductory Works
Dr. Patricia Resick began developing and testing cognitive processing therapy in the late 1980s; however, research did not begin to appear in peer-reviewed journals until the early 1990s. In 1992, Resick and Schnicke published research conducted on the existing treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from sexual assault and suggested that previous therapies did not fully meet the needs of this population (see Resick, et al. 2016). This is the beginning of research literature on cognitive processing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Resick continues to actively research, publish, and train professionals on CPT. The works in this section by Dr. Resick provide a context for some of her works within the field (see Larsen, et al. 2019; Sloan, et al. 2018; Stirman, et al. 2018; Thompson-Hollands, et al. 2018).
Larsen, S. D. E., C. J. Fleming, and P. A. Resick. 2019. Residual symptoms following empirically supported treatment for PTSD. Psychological Trauma 11.2: 207–215.
DOI: 10.1037/tra0000384
This study examined evidence-based treatments and their effects on reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The findings were consistent with previous research and suggest evidence-based practices are effective in treating PTSD symptoms.
Resick, P. A., C. M. Monson, and K. M. Chard. 2016. Cognitive processing therapy for PTSD: A comprehensive manual. New York: Guilford.
Comprehensive guide on everything cognitive processing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder with contributions from top experts, who developed the therapy. This guide is critical for clinicians using or wanting to utilize cognitive processing therapy for their patients. This manual discusses cognitive processing therapy with unique populations such as sexual assault survivors and combat veterans.
Sloan, D. M., B. P. Marx, D. J. Lee, P. A. Resick. 2018. A brief exposure-based treatment vs cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized noninferiority clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry 75.3: 233–239.
DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4249
In this publication, the researchers seek to answer the question, “Is a brief, exposure-based treatment noninferior to the more time-intensive cognitive processing therapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder?” (p. 233) This randomized trial included veteran and nonveteran adults randomized to written exposure therapy (WET) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Results indicate that WET is noninferior to CPT in reducing PTSD symptoms.
Stirman, S. W., C. A. Gutner, M. K. Suvak, A. Adler, A. Calloway, and P. Resick. 2018. Homework completion, patient characteristics, and symptom change in cognitive processing therapy for PTSD. Behavior Therapy 49.5: 741–755.
DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2017.12.001
An approach that examines if homework completion has an association with behavior change and dropout rates in therapy. The researchers suggest that homework completion is associated with greater symptom change at certain time points associated with subsequent symptom change. Homework completion may be an indicator of engagement as patients were less likely to drop out.
Thompson-Hollands, J., B. P. Marx, D. J. Lee, P. A. Resick, and D. M. Sloan. 2018. Long-term treatment gains of a brief exposure-based treatment for PTSD. Depression and Anxiety 35.10: 985–991.
DOI: 10.1002/da.22825
The authors examined written exposure therapy (WET) in comparison to cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The outcome suggests that both WET and CPT were effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder and had considerable long-term positive outcomes.
Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on this page. Please subscribe or login.
How to Subscribe
Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions. For more information or to contact an Oxford Sales Representative click here.
Article
- Abortion
- Adolescent Depression
- Adolescent Pregnancy
- Adolescents
- Adoption
- Adoption Home Study Assessments
- Adult Protective Services in the United States
- African Americans
- Aging
- Aging out of foster care
- Aging, Physical Health and
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Problems
- Alcohol and Drug Problems, Prevention of Adolescent and Yo...
- Alcohol Problems: Practice Interventions
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
- Anti-Oppressive Practice
- Asian Americans
- Asian-American Youth
- Assessment
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Baccalaureate Social Workers
- Behavioral Health
- Behavioral Social Work Practice
- Bereavement Practice
- Bisexuality
- Brief Therapies in Social Work: Task-Centered Model and So...
- Bullying and Social Work Intervention
- Canadian Social Welfare, History of
- Case Management in Mental Health in the United States
- Central American Migration to the United States
- Child Maltreatment Prevention
- Child Neglect and Emotional Maltreatment
- Child Poverty
- Child Sexual Abuse
- Child Welfare
- Child Welfare and Child Protection in Europe, History of
- Child Welfare Practice with LGBTQ Youth and Families
- Children
- Children of Incarcerated Parents
- Christianity and Social Work
- Chronic Illness
- Clinical Social Work Practice with Adult Lesbians
- Clinical Social Work Practice with Males
- Cognitive Behavior Therapies with Diverse and Stressed Pop...
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Community
- Community Development
- Community Policing
- Community-Based Participatory Research
- Community-Needs Assessment
- Comparative Social Work
- Computational Social Welfare: Applying Data Science in Soc...
- Conflict Resolution
- Council on Social Work Education
- Counseling Female Offenders
- Criminal Justice
- Crisis Interventions
- Cultural Competence and Ethnic Sensitive Practice
- Culture, Ethnicity, Substance Use, and Substance Use Disor...
- Dementia Care
- Dementia Care, Ethical Aspects of
- Depression and Cancer
- Development and Infancy (Birth to Age Three)
- Differential Response in Child Welfare
- Digital Storytelling for Social Work Interventions
- Direct Practice in Social Work
- Disabilities
- Disability and Disability Culture
- Disasters
- Divorce
- Domestic Violence Among Immigrants
- Early Pregnancy and Parenthood Among Child Welfare–Involve...
- Eating Disorders
- Ecological Framework
- Economic Evaluation
- Elder Mistreatment
- End-of-Life Decisions
- Epigenetics for Social Workers
- Ethical Issues in Social Work and Technology
- Ethics and Values in Social Work
- Ethnicity
- European Institutions and Social Work
- European Union, Justice and Home Affairs in the
- Evidence-based Social Work Practice
- Evidence-based Social Work Practice: Finding Evidence
- Evidence-based Social Work Practice: Issues, Controversies...
- Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs
- Families
- Families with Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Parents
- Family Caregiving
- Family Group Conferencing
- Family Policy
- Family Services
- Family Therapy
- Family Violence
- Fathering Among Families Served By Child Welfare
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Field Education
- Financial Literacy and Social Work
- Financing Health-Care Delivery in the United States
- Forensic Social Work
- Foster Care
- Foster care and siblings
- Gay Men
- Gender, Violence, and Trauma in Immigration Detention in t...
- Generalist Practice and Advanced Generalist Practice
- Group Work
- Group Work across Populations, Challenges, and Settings
- Group Work, Research, Best Practices, and Evidence-based
- Harm Reduction
- Health Care Reform
- Health Disparities
- Health Social Work
- History of Social Work and Social Welfare, 1900–1950
- History of Social Work and Social Welfare, 1950-1980
- History of Social Work and Social Welfare, pre-1900
- History of Social Work from 1980-2014
- History of Social Work in China
- History of Social Work in Northern Ireland
- History of Social Work in the Republic of Ireland
- History of Social Work in the United Kingdom
- HIV/AIDS
- HIV/AIDS and Children
- HIV/AIDS Prevention with Adolescents
- Homelessness
- Homelessness Outside the United States
- Housing
- Human Needs
- Human Trafficking, Victims of
- Immigrant Integration in the United States
- Immigrant Policy in the United States
- Immigrants and Refugees
- Immigrants and Refugees: Evidence-based Social Work Practi...
- Immigration and Health Disparities
- Immigration and Intimate Partner Violence
- Immigration and Poverty
- Immigration and Spirituality
- Immigration and Substance Use
- Impact of Emerging Technology in Social Work Practice
- Impaired Professionals
- Implementation Science and Practice
- Indigenous Peoples
- Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employmen...
- In-home Child Welfare Services
- Intergenerational Transmission of Maltreatment
- International Social Welfare
- International Social Work
- International Social Work and Education
- International Social Work and Social Welfare in Southern A...
- Internet and Video Game Addiction
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy
- Intervention with Traumatized Populations
- Interviewing
- Intimate-Partner Violence
- Juvenile Justice
- Kinship Care
- Korean Americans
- Latinos and Latinas
- Law, Social Work and the
- LGBTQ Populations and Social Work
- Life Span
- Mainland European Social Work, History of
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Management and Administration in Social Work
- Maternal Mental Health
- Measurement, Scales, and Indices
- Medical Illness
- Men: Health and Mental Health Care
- Mental Health
- Mental Health Diagnosis and the Addictive Substance Disord...
- Mental Health Needs of Older People, Assessing the
- Mental Illness: Children
- Mental Illness: Elders
- Meta-analysis
- Microskills
- Middle East and North Africa, International Social Work an...
- Military Social Work
- Mixed Methods Research
- Moral distress and injury in social work
- Motivational Interviewing
- Multiculturalism
- Native Americans
- Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
- Neighborhood Social Cohesion
- Neuroscience and Social Work
- Nicotine Dependence
- Occupational Social Work
- Organizational Development and Change
- Pain Management
- Palliative Care
- Palliative Care: Evolution and Scope of Practice
- Pandemics and Social Work
- Parent Training
- Personalization
- Person-in-Environment
- Philosophy of Science and Social Work
- Physical Disabilities
- Podcasts and Social Work
- Police Social Work
- Political Social Work in the United States
- Positive Youth Development
- Postmodernism and Social Work
- Postsecondary Education Experiences and Attainment Among Y...
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Poverty
- Practice Interventions and Aging
- Practice Interventions with Adolescents
- Practice Research
- Primary Prevention in the 21st Century
- Productive Engagement of Older Adults
- Profession, Social Work
- Program Development and Grant Writing
- Promoting Smart Decarceration as a Grand Challenge
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation
- Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Theory
- Psychoeducation
- Psychometrics
- Psychopathology and Social Work Practice
- Psychopharmacology and Social Work Practice
- Psychosocial Framework
- Psychosocial Intervention with Women
- Psychotherapy and Social Work
- Qualitative Research
- Race and Racism
- Readmission Policies in Europe
- Redefining Police Interactions with People Experiencing Me...
- Rehabilitation
- Religiously Affiliated Agencies
- Reproductive Health
- Research
- Research Ethics
- Restorative Justice
- Risk Assessment in Child Protection Services
- Risk Management in Social Work
- Rural Social Work in China
- Rural Social Work Practice
- School Social Work
- School Violence
- School-Based Delinquency Prevention
- Services and Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Youth
- Severe and Persistent Mental Illness: Adults
- Sexual and Gender Minority Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylu...
- Sexual Assault
- Single-System Research Designs
- Social Development
- Social Insurance and Social Justice
- Social Intervention Research
- Social Justice and Social Work
- Social Movements
- Social Planning
- Social Policy
- Social Policy in Denmark
- Social Security in the United States (OASDHI)
- Social Work and Islam
- Social Work and Social Welfare in East, West, and Central ...
- Social Work and Social Welfare in Europe
- Social Work Education and Research
- Social Work Leadership
- Social Work Luminaries: Luminaries Contributing to the Cla...
- Social Work Luminaries: Luminaries contributing to the fou...
- Social Work Luminaries: Luminaries Who Contributed to Soci...
- Social Work Regulation
- Social Work Research Methods
- Social Work with Interpreters
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Strategic Planning
- Strengths Perspective
- Strengths-Based Models in Social Work
- Suicide
- Supplemental Security Income
- Survey Research
- Sustainability: Creating Social Responses to a Changing En...
- Syrian Refugees in Turkey
- Systematic Review Methods
- Task-Centered Practice
- Technology Adoption in Social Work Education
- Technology for Social Work Interventions
- Technology, Human Relationships, and Human Interaction
- Technology in Social Work
- Terminal Illness
- Terrorism
- The Impact of Systemic Racism on Latinxs’ Experiences with...
- Transdisciplinary Science
- Translational Science and Social Work
- Transnational Perspectives in Social Work
- Transtheoretical Model of Change
- Trauma
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Triangulation
- Tribal child welfare practice in the United States
- Unions
- United States, History of Social Welfare in the
- Universal Basic Income
- Veteran Services
- Vicarious Trauma Redefining PTSD
- Victim Services
- Violence
- Virtual Reality and Social Work
- Welfare State Reform in France
- Welfare State Theory
- Women and Macro Social Work Practice
- Women's Health Care
- Work and Family in the German Welfare State
- Workfare
- Workforce Development of Social Workers Pre- and Post-Empl...
- Working with Non-Voluntary and Mandated Clients
- Young and Adolescent Lesbians
- Youth at Risk
- Youth Services