Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (727 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A directive form of psychotherapy based on the interpretation of situations (cognitive structure of experiences) that determine how an individual feels and behaves. It is based on the premise that cognition, the process of acquiring knowledge and forming beliefs, is a primary determinant of mood and behavior. The therapy uses behavioral and verbal techniques to identify and correct negative thinking that is at the root of the aberrant behavior.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Behavioral Therapies, Cognitive; Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive; Cognitive Behavioral Therapies; Therapies, Cognitive Behavioral; Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral; Cognition Therapy; Cognition Therapies; Therapies, Cognition.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Behavior Therapy
- Narrower topics
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Cognitive Restructuring; Mindfulness
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 45,231 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 16,497 of them (36.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 19,304 records.
Reviews account for 9,871 records (21.8%) and meta-analyses for 2,446. Randomized controlled trials number 12,823 (28.4%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 1,579 |
| 2000-2009 | 7,851 |
| 2010-2019 | 19,304 |
| 2020 onward | 16,497 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 9,871 | 21.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 2,446 | 5.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 12,823 | 28.4% |
Method: PubMed query "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in psychiatry and psychology
Research on mental health and behaviour relies on questionnaires, interviews and rating scales rather than physical measurements, so how a condition was defined and measured shapes every result. Many studies are observational or small, placebo responses can be large, and findings in one group or culture may not carry over to another. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; anyone worried about their mental health should talk to a qualified clinician. Check how outcomes were measured, who took part and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions to Improve Mental Health: A Narrative Review | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 42196644 · DOI · PMC13205468 |
| Plasma short-chain fatty acid concentrations in social anxiety disorder and changes after cognitive behavioral therapy | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42236485 · DOI · PMC13233848 |
| Individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy improves anxiety, depression, sleep quality, hopelessness, and disease severity in fibromyalgia syndrome: a single-blind randomized controlled trial | 2026 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42189251 · DOI · PMC13212815 |
Effectiveness of Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions to Improve Mental Health: A Narrative Review [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background: Human health is closely interconnected to our ecosystem.
- Closing excerpt
- They offer promising One Health-aligned strategies for strengthening psychological resilience in climate-vulnerable regions, warranting further research and context-specific adaptation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (243 words)
Background: Human health is closely interconnected to our ecosystem. Several studies found evidence that nature-based interventions improve mental health. Very recently, these approaches have started including mindfulness practices. Nature-based mindfulness interventions (NBMIs) combine contemplative practices with exposure to natural environments and are increasingly recognised as promising tools for supporting mental health and resilience within a One Health perspective, fostering physio-psychological wellbeing whilst promoting nature awareness and a sense of connection with our planet-"biofilia", as defined by American biologist Edward Wilson. Given the growing psychological impacts of climate-related stressors, NBMIs may offer particular value for regions with high climate-risk and ecological vulnerability. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted following established principles for high-quality non-systematic reviews. A non-systematic but structured search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library (January 2018-November 2025), complemented by grey literature, identified studies involving adolescents and adults participating in interventions integrating mindfulness practices with natural environments. Extracted data included study context, participant characteristics, intervention type, mental health and resilience outcomes. Results: Across heterogeneous designs, NBMIs consistently reduced stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms and rumination, while improving sleep, vitality, attention and self-regulation. Most studies reported enhanced nature connectedness-an important mediator of wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. Programmes delivered to disaster-affected populations showed reductions in distress. Conclusions: NBMIs are feasible, low-cost and adaptable interventions with dual benefits for mental health and ecological awareness. They offer promising One Health-aligned strategies for strengthening psychological resilience in climate-vulnerable regions, warranting further research and context-specific adaptation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42196644 · DOI · PMC13205468
Plasma short-chain fatty acid concentrations in social anxiety disorder and changes after cognitive behavioral therapy [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiota are linked to variation in social behavior and anxiety, with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) proposed as key microbial metabolites that may mediate microbiota-brain communication.
- Closing excerpt
- Lifestyle factors were not assessed but may have contributed to the observed long-term metabolic changes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (246 words)
Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiota are linked to variation in social behavior and anxiety, with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) proposed as key microbial metabolites that may mediate microbiota-brain communication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD), but it remains unclear whether gut microbiota changes following treatment. In this longitudinal study, 46 individuals with SAD underwent nine weeks of internet-delivered CBT. Plasma concentrations of nine SCFAs were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: twice at pre-treatment, once at post-treatment and once at a 36-month follow-up in patients, with > 80% data completeness. Healthy controls (n = 42) underwent two SCFA assessments 11 weeks apart. Generalized additive mixed models were used to assess longitudinal changes with CBT, linear mixed models for patient-control differences, and intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability. CBT led to significant reductions in social anxiety symptoms, and effects were sustained at 36 months follow-up. Plasma concentrations of butyric, isobutyric, propionic, and valeric acids increased after CBT, with trajectories predominantly explained by time rather than individual variability. Before CBT, isobutyric acid was statistically significantly lower in SAD patients, relative to healthy controls. These findings provide initial evidence that sustained therapeutic benefits of CBT may be linked to alterations in circulating microbial metabolites, as indexed by lower isobutyric acid in SAD patients at pre-treatment, and increases in isobutyric, butyric, propionic and valeric acids after therapy. Lifestyle factors were not assessed but may have contributed to the observed long-term metabolic changes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42236485 · DOI · PMC13233848
Individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy improves anxiety, depression, sleep quality, hopelessness, and disease severity in fibromyalgia syndrome: a single-blind randomized controlled trial [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The current study evaluates the effects of individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), administered alongside routine treatment, on anxiety, depression, sleep quality, hopelessness, and disease severity in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
- Closing excerpt
- Integrating individualized CBT protocols into clinical practice for fibromyalgia management should be encouraged.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (238 words)
The current study evaluates the effects of individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), administered alongside routine treatment, on anxiety, depression, sleep quality, hopelessness, and disease severity in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This is a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was conducted in a tertiary physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic. Seventy patients who met the 2016 American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into an intervention group (n = 35) and a control group (n = 35). The intervention group received a 10-week individualized CBT program administered by a psychologist in addition to routine treatment, while the control group received only routine treatment. Outcomes were assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression Scale (HADS), comprising the anxiety subscale (HADS-A) and the depression subscale (HADS-D), Jenkins sleep scale (JSS), fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), and Beck hopelessness scale (BHS) before and after the intervention. A total of 57 patients completed the study, with 23 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group. No significant differences were found between the groups in baseline demographic characteristics and scale scores (p > 0.05). The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all scales following treatment: the HADS-A median score decreased from 13.00 to 10.00 (p 0.05). Individualized CBT, added to routine treatment, addresses anxiety, depression, sleep quality, disease impact, and other issues in FMS patients. Integrating individualized CBT protocols into clinical practice for fibromyalgia management should be encouraged.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42189251 · DOI · PMC13212815
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Components and Delivery Formats of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Insomnia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Component Network Meta-Analysis [4]
- Research article A systematic review and meta-analysis of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapies for emotional disorders [5]
- Research article Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials [6]
- Research article Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Mental Disorders in Adults: A Unified Series of Meta-Analyses [7]
- Research article Cognitive behavioral therapy for lifestyle changes in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Examining domains of psychological flexibility and inflexibility as treatment mechanisms in acceptance and commitment therapy: A comprehensive systematic and meta-analytic review [9]
Full-text reviews on EvidenceLib
Open-access review articles about this topic, reproduced in full with authors, licence and references.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Migraine Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Ji-yong Bae, Hyun-Kyung Sung, Na-Yoen Kwon et al. · Medicina 2021 · CC BY 4.0
References
- Vecchio C, Copat C, Rapisarda P, Oliveri Conti G, Ferrante M. Effectiveness of Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions to Improve Mental Health: A Narrative Review. . 2026. PMID 42196644 · DOI · PMC13205468
- Cai W, Stiernborg M, Wolthon A, Landberg R, Manzouri A, Furmark T, et al.. Plasma short-chain fatty acid concentrations in social anxiety disorder and changes after cognitive behavioral therapy. . 2026. PMID 42236485 · DOI · PMC13233848
- Kocyigit BF, Öztürk GY, Sönmez MM, Yerkebayeva SK, Assylbek MI. Individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy improves anxiety, depression, sleep quality, hopelessness, and disease severity in fibromyalgia syndrome: a single-blind randomized controlled trial. . 2026. PMID 42189251 · DOI · PMC13212815
- Furukawa Y, Sakata M, Yamamoto R, Nakajima S, Kikuchi S, Inoue M, et al.. Components and Delivery Formats of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Insomnia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Component Network Meta-Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2024. PMID 38231522 · DOI · PMC10794978
- Schaeuffele C, Meine LE, Schulz A, Weber MC, Moser A, Paersch C, et al.. A systematic review and meta-analysis of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapies for emotional disorders. Nat Hum Behav. 2024. PMID 38228727 · DOI · PMC10963275
- Martinez-Calderon J, García-Muñoz C, Rufo-Barbero C, Matias-Soto J, Cano-García FJ. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Pain. 2024. PMID 37748597 · DOI
- Cuijpers P, Harrer M, Miguel C, Ciharova M, Papola D, Basic D, et al.. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Mental Disorders in Adults: A Unified Series of Meta-Analyses. JAMA Psychiatry. 2025. PMID 40238104 · DOI · PMC12004241
- Kurnik Mesarič K, Pajek J, Logar Zakrajšek B, Bogataj Š, Kodrič J. Cognitive behavioral therapy for lifestyle changes in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2023. PMID 37550475 · DOI · PMC10406954
- Macri JA, Rogge RD. Examining domains of psychological flexibility and inflexibility as treatment mechanisms in acceptance and commitment therapy: A comprehensive systematic and meta-analytic review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2024. PMID 38615492 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.