Types Of Therapy Used For Treating Personality Disorders

The two major types of therapy used to treat personality disorders are cognitive and behavioral therapy, and a lot of the time, a merge between the two called cognitive behavior therapy. The effectiveness of these three types of therapy on those suffering from depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and panic disorders has been discussed and tested for years. The effectiveness of these therapies on the discussed disorders varies greatly, but has been proven by several studies. A definitive yes or no cannot answer the question to whether or not a therapy is effective, for every person and every therapist is different. However, the data on these therapies can be analyzed and be used to show which therapy might be better for a†¦show more content†¦It was found that the response rate after eight weeks of the people who were on medication and those who had cognitive therapy were both much higher than those who received the placebo (DeRubeis et al. 2005). The study condu cted by DeRubeis et al (2005) concluded that, â€Å"cognitive therapy can be as effective as medications for the initial treatment of moderate to severe major depression.† (p.1). However, other studies have shown that cognitive therapy may work as well or better than antidepressants in the long run. Patients who were treated with cognitive therapy were found less likely to relapse than those who were on antidepressants in one study (Gloaguen et al, 1998). According to Beck (1993), cognitive therapy is significantly more effective than medication on one year and two year follow ups. A study done by Hollon, Shelton, and Loosen (1991) proved that the relapse rate for cognitive therapy was thirty percent compared to the relapse rate of sixty percent for people who were on medication. In an article comparing cognitive behavioral therapy to other therapies, Parker, Roy, and Eyers (2003) conclude that cognitive behavior therapy might in fact be superior to antidepressant medications . Parker et al (2003) mentioned people with depression that might not be able to take or tolerate medication or people who are pregnant. Cognitive behavior therapy is a good tool for those who cannot take medication. The studies I have researched all proved that cognitive