Cognitive Behavioural Analysis of Psychotherapy (CBASP)

Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) is a therapy model developed specifically for the treatment of chronic depression. Chronic depression refers to a type of depression that has been persistent for at least two years for adults (one year for adolescents) and has often arisen as a result of traumatic experiences or relationship difficulties with significant others such as family or childhood friends.

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CBASP aims to help bring awareness to the differences in, your perception of your experiences, and a more objective viewpoint.  It teaches you how to make yourself feel better emotionally, by negotiating your relationships to achieve more helpful outcomes. In psychotherapy, patients are taught that their personal behaviour in situations has specific consequences and in learning to recognise what these consequences are, patients become perceptually connected/reconnected to others.

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How does it work?

CBASP follows a very structured process that focuses on the relationship with the therapist who teaches you a range of techniques to use that will help you relieve symptoms and manage your depression.

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Is it effective?

There is a large and growing amount of research supporting CBASP’s effectiveness for treating chronic depression. Clinical outcomes indicate that CBASP is a more effective therapy when depression has become chronic or treatment resistant.

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One large scale study found that 85% of patients who used a combination of medication and CBASP improved significantly in measures of depression (Keller, 2000).