Cognitive Therapy Skills Predict Cognitive Reactivity to Sad Mood Following Cognitive Therapy for Depression

Both patients' competence in the coping skills taught in cognitive therapy (CT) and patients' endorsement of dysfunctional cognitions following a sad mood induction [i.e., their cognitive reactivity (CR)] have been found to predict risk of relapse following a successful course of CT for depression. We examined the relationship between these constructs, specifically whether CT skills would be related to less CR following a mood induction among patients who responded to a course of CT. In a sample of 28 depressed patients, post-treatment CT skills were significantly related to less CR in response to a sad mood induction procedure (beta = -.29). This relation was not accounted for by individual differences in mood reactivity. We discuss these findings as a key step in developing a more complete understanding of the role of CT coping skills and CR as markers of patients' vulnerability to relapse.