One of the most important developments in psychosocial approaches to emotional problems has been the success of cognitive therapy for depression. Evidence for the powerful efficacy of this approach has increased throughout the years, particularly in regard to its long-term outcome. Because it employs a variety of well specified cognitive and behavioral techniques, cognitive therapy for depression is known for its detailed structure of each session with its specific agendas. It is also know for the deliberate and obviously effective therapeutic style or interacting with the clients through a series of well thought out questions.
             Cognitive therapy with adult depressed clients is usually undertaken in the therapist's office. It has most frequently been applied in a one-on-one setting. However, group cognitive therapy has also been shown to successful with many depressed outpatients. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders encounter by therapists. More than 19 million adult Americans will experience some form of depression each year. Depression has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks, and is a frequent factor in strokes, diabetes, and cancer. Furthermore, depression is the leading cause of disability, and the costs of treatment are an estimated $30 billion a year. Evidence even suggests that by the year 2010, depression will be the second most costly of illnesses worldwide.
             Research has indicated that cognitive therapy for depression is at least as effective as tricyclic antidepressants. Some studies have even found cognitive therapy to be superior to drug treatment. However, these results cannot always be duplicated. Even though the vast majority of clients recover from depression, they are always vulnerable to future episodes of depression. With this in mind, the urgent need for a therapy that is capable of minimizing and preventing relapse. One that clients can utilize long after the gr...