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Fact Sheets of ABCT

Fact Sheets in English
Panfletos en Español

ABCT is pleased to offer the growing archive of “Fact Sheets” listed below.

Fact Sheets provide an introduction to the disorder, its symptoms, and likely treatment approaches (with a particular emphasis on cognitive and behavioral strategies).

If you are interested in learning more about how a therapist might work with you or a family member to solve problems and improve the quality of life, please consult our fact sheet, What to Expect From Therapy and Guidelines for Choosing a Therapist.

About Fact Sheet Writers

Adolescent and Young Adults With Cancer Adolescent and Young Adults With Cancer - The effects of a cancer diagnosis and treatment may be especially upsetting for people diagnosed as adolescents and young adults.
Adolescent Suicide Adolescent Suicide - Suicide the third leading cause of death for adolescents. Out of every 100 attempts, 1 adolescent will succeed in committing suicide.
Adult Traumatic Brain Injury for Mental Health Professionals Adult Traumatic Brain Injury for Mental Health Professionals - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an alteration in brain function or mental status that results from external force.
Adult Traumatic Brain Injury for Supporters of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury Adult Traumatic Brain Injury for Supporters of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury - Family members and loved ones or supporters play a critical and often underappreciated role in recovery after brain injury.
Adult Traumatic Brain Injury for Survivors of Brain Injury Adult Traumatic Brain Injury for Survivors of Brain Injury - Doctors also look at whether you were disoriented and confused at the time of injury, and how long this lasted. Stress can also cause people to be confused, disoriented, or have trouble remembering what is happening.
Aging Aging - Most older adults are less likely than younger adults to have common mental health conditions
AIDS Prevention AIDS Prevention - The first known cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were identified in 1981
Alcohol Alcohol - Drinking beverages containing alcohol has been prevalent in many societies throughout history.
Anger Anger - In response to being criticized or ignored, or when overwhelmed with daily hassles, people can feel irritated, annoyed, or angry.
Anxiety Disorders Anxiety Disorders - Anxiety is a normal emotion and common experience, and it represents one of the most basic of human emotions.
Assertiveness Training Assertiveness Training - Assertiveness training can be an effective treatment for certain conditions, such as depression, social anxiety, and problems resulting from unexpressed anger.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - People with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have difficulties in sustaining attention to tasks, particularly if they demand more effort than usual.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has two parts: difficulty using language to communicate and restricted and repetitive behaviors.
Bed-Wetting Bed-Wetting - About 15% of all elementary-school-age children wet the bed, and continued bed-wetting beyond the age of 5 is a problem that should be treated.
Behavioral Activation Behavioral Activation - Behavioral Activation is a psychological treatment approach that helps us connect with and routinely involve ourselves in personally rewarding activities.
Bereavement Bereavement - Although loss is a nearly universal experience, there is considerable variety in how people grieve.
Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is a persistent psychological illness that affects over 2% of adults worldwide.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a preoccupation with a nonexistent or slight appearance defect, coupled with behaviors or rituals, such as excessive mirror checking, performed in response to appearance-related anxiety.
Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder - Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a psychological disorder affecting about 1 to 2% of the population.
Bullying Bullying - Bullying is a significant problem for many children, adolescents, and adults worldwide.
Bullying for Mental Health Professionals Bullying for Mental Health Professionals - Bullying is a significant problem for many children, youth, and adults worldwide.
Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Abuse - Child sexual abuse (CSA) involves sexual contact between a child and an adult, an older youth (e.g., four or more years older), or any person perceived as having greater power or authority.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness characterized by a combination of symptoms and signs that have lasted six months or longer.
Chronic Pain Chronic Pain - Chronic, disabling pain is estimated to affect over 50 million people in the U.S. alone.
Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder - Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders (CRSDs) involve a problem in the timing of sleep.
Cognitive Remediation for Psychiatric Disorders Cognitive Remediation for Psychiatric Disorders - Cognitive remediation (CR), also called cognitive enhancement, cognitive rehabilitation, or cognitive training, is a behavioral intervention targeting problems with cognition (the mental ability to process and understand information and ideas).
Complicated Grief Complicated Grief - Grief is a normal reaction and includes a variety of psychological and physiological symptoms that evolve over time.
Coping With Cancer Coping With Cancer - Cancer is the number two killer in the United States after heart disease.
COVID for Kids COVID for Kids - experts suggest that people should pay attention to their ideas, their feelings, and their actions when dealing with situations. Here are some things for kids to consider.
Crime Crime - Crime is frequent, increasing, and truly democratic; it affects Americans regardless of sex, race, and age.
Depression Depression - Depression is a common psychological problem, experienced by many people at some time during their lives.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT was originally developed in the 1980s by Marsha Linehan, a psychologist at the University of Washington.
Drug Use and Abuse Drug Use and Abuse - When we speak of drugs, we mean those substances that affect our brain and, thus, our behavior.
Eating Disorders Eating Disorders - Large amounts of food put us at risk for the three major eating disorders: obesity, bulimia, and anorexia nervosa.
Estrés Postraumático Estrés Postraumático - La mayoría de las personas experimentan eventos estresantes, pero cuando el evento es excepcionalmente estresante puede ser llamado trauma o experiencia traumática.
Family Caregiving Family Caregiving - Family Caregiving: most caregivers live longer than individuals who are not involved in providing care to another person
Female Sexual Pain Female Sexual Pain - Female Sexual Pain (FSP) disorders affect about 15% of women, and include symptoms of pain in and around the vulva, vagina, or uterus.
Guidelines for Choosing a Therapist Guidelines for Choosing a Therapist - After the decision to seek therapy has been made, an individual may feel unsure about how to choose a therapist.
Headache Headache - A migraine or "sick headache," is experienced as a sudden onset, most often one-sided, intensely throbbing pain.
Health Anxiety Health Anxiety - Anxiety is the body’s natural response to the perception of threat.
Helping Children Cope With Divorce Helping Children Cope With Divorce - There is a 50/50 chance that couples who marry today will divorce, and almost half of all children now growing up in the United States have seen or will see their parents’ marriage end.
Hoarding Hoarding - A person collects and keeps a lot of items, even things that appear useless or of little value to most people
Hypertension Hypertension - Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the most common health conditions in America, affecting about one in three adults and an increasing number of children.
Injury Prevention With Young Children Injury Prevention With Young Children - The greatest risk to children’s health is not cancer, heart disease, or any other form of illness. The leading killer of children (ages 1–19) in the United States is injury.
Insomnia Insomnia - Insomnia is a common problem affecting up to 30% of adults. Half of the people with insomnia think their problem is bad enough to seek professional help.
Intimate Partner Violence Intimate Partner Violence - Increasing attention has been devoted to intimate partner violence by the general public, government agencies, and mental health professionals over the past 50 years.
Living With HIV Living With HIV - HIV is a chronic illness, and with proper treatment, individuals with HIV can live long lives, generally without changes to one’s life expectancy.
Low Back Pain Low Back Pain - According to the Nuprin Pain Report, over half of the U.S. adult population suffers from backaches each year.
Marital Distress Marital Distress - According to recent census data, approximately 50% of first marriages end in divorce, one of life's most stressful events.
Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD is a stress-related disorder that develops after a traumatic experience.
Military Suicide Military Suicide - Suicides among military personnel have been steadily rising during the past ten years, with suicide now being the second-leading cause of death among military personnel.
Military Veterans Mental Health Military Veterans Mental Health - Though military personnel and veterans can experience the full range of mental health conditions, research suggests they are more likely to be diagnosed with mood and anxiety disorders, including depression, panic, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as anger-related disorders.
Misuse of Legal Stimulants by Children and Adolescents Misuse of Legal Stimulants by Children and Adolescents - Misuse of legal stimulants by children and adolescents is a growing concern for parents and health-care providers.
Obsessive-Complusive Disorder Obsessive-Complusive Disorder - Although once thought to be a relatively rare condition, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is now recognized to be a common and often debilitating form of mental illness.
Opioid Use Disorder Opioid Use Disorder - Opioid use disorder is defined by regular use of opioids and at least two of the following symptoms: (1) taking more opioids than one wanted, or intended to; (2) having trouble cutting down on opioid use; (3) spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from the effects of opioids;
Panic Disorder Panic Disorder - In panic disorder, the panic attacks are “false” alarms, because the feeling of the alarm occurs even though there is no real danger.
Parenting Programs Parenting Programs - Parenting programs provide parents with skills to help reduce challenging behaviors in their child (e.g., aggression, defiance) and improve their relationship with their child
Pediatric Mood Disorders Pediatric Mood Disorders - It is normal for youths to experience periods of depressed mood as they navigate childhood and adolescence.
Phobias Phobias - A phobia can be defined as a fear and/or avoidance of an object, activity, or situation that the individual knows is out of proportion to the actual danger that that object, activity, or situation poses.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Most people experience stressful events, but when the event is exceptionally stressful it may be called trauma or a traumatic experience.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Postpartum Depression and Anxiety - Postpartum depression and anxiety are very common disorders, affecting as many as 1 in 6 new mothers.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy - Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a novel form of mental health treatment that involves a combination of psychotherapy and psychedelic experiences.
Race-Based Traumatic Stress Race-Based Traumatic Stress - The effects of race-based traumatic stress are similar to other forms of trauma and adversity. Additionally, the toll from these experiences is cumulative.
Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy - Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy developed by Dr. Thomas R. Lynch for disorders of overcontrol.
Schizophrenia Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia is a major mental illness which affects approximately 1 out of 100 in the world’s population.
Selective Mutism Selective Mutism - Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which a child or adolescent fails to speak in specific social situations or to specific people (e.g., school, birthday parties, or to familiar adults), despite being able to speak in other situations and to other people (e.g., home, parents, or to peers).
Sexual and Gender Minority Populations Sexual and Gender Minority Populations - “Sex” (or “sex assigned at birth”) refers to whether someone is labeled as male or female at birth (or before birth during an ultrasound).
Sexual Assault Sexual Assault - Anyone — men, women, and even children — can be sexually assaulted.
Shyness, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Social Phobia Shyness, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Social Phobia - It is that all-toofamiliar feeling of discomfort, tension, or anxiety that a person may experience when he or she has to interact with other people, or when he or she faces the prospect of doing something in front of others.
Stress Stress - Stress can come from anywhere: day-to-day activities, relationships, work, life changes, illness, even from fun events.
Suicide Suicide - Understanding who is at risk for suicide involves understanding the complex factors among individual differences, long-term risk factors, and short-term risk factors
Survivors of Trauma: Combat-Related Stress Survivors of Trauma: Combat-Related Stress - Traumas in the military can occur in a variety of circumstances, at home and abroad
Ten Steps to Cope With the Pandemic Ten Steps to Cope With the Pandemic - We are currently facing a pandemic of a novel coronavirus that has already killed hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
Tobacco Dependence Tobacco Dependence - Much is known about the habit, including the fact that many of the facts which apply to smoking apply also to other forms of tobacco use, such as chewing tobacco, pipes, cigars, and snuff.
Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth - People who identify as TGNC experience their gender as something different than what is stereotypically associated with their sex assigned at birth.
Trastornos de Ansiedad Trastornos de Ansiedad - La ansiedad es una emoción normal y una experiencia común, y representa unas de las emociones humanas más fundamentales.
Trauma Trauma - Everyone experiences stress in their lives, but when an event or series of events is exceptionally stressful, it is called a trauma or traumatic experience.
Treating Race-Based Traumatic Stress Treating Race-Based Traumatic Stress - If you are dealing with the psychological wounds of racism, therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, can teach you strategies to settle your body, reduce unhelpful thinking patterns, and intervene in systems that impinge on your mental health and wellness.
Trichotillomania Trichotillomania - Trichotillomania, also known as hair pulling disorder (HPD), is a psychiatric illness affecting up to 4% of the population.
Understanding Your Friend or Relative’s Alcohol or Drug Problem Understanding Your Friend or Relative’s Alcohol or Drug Problem - If someone you know has an alcohol or drug problem, whether it is your spouse, another family member, a friend, or an employee, your support can be very important in helping that person change.
Unemployment Unemployment - Unemployment can be associated with increases in depression and anxiety, trouble sleeping, decreased life-satisfaction, problems with alcohol abuse, and changes in physical well-being.
What to Expect From Therapy What to Expect From Therapy - In general terms, psychotherapy is a relationship in which one person enlists the professional assistance of another for the purpose of bringing about changes in his or her own feelings, thoughts, attitudes, and/or behavior.
Worry Worry - early everyone worries at some time, and it is normal that worry increases when problems or dangers exist, or when a person faces something new or unknown.

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Panfletos en Español

Spanish-Language Pamphlets

What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy?

Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy are types of treatment that are based firmly on research findings. These approaches aid people in achieving specific changes or goals.

Changes or goals might involve:

A way of acting: like smoking less or being more outgoing;
A way of feeling: like helping a person to be less scared, less depressed, or less anxious;
A way of thinking: like learning to problem-solve or get rid of self-defeating thoughts;
A way of dealing with physical or medical problems: like lessening back pain or helping a person stick to a doctor’s suggestions.

Behavior Therapists and Cognitive Behavior Therapists usually focus more on the current situation and its solution, rather than the past. They concentrate on a person’s views and beliefs about their life, not on personality traits. Behavior Therapists and Cognitive Behavior Therapists treat individuals, parents, children, couples, and families. Replacing ways of living that do not work well with ways of living that work, and giving people more control over their lives, are common goals of behavior and cognitive behavior therapy.

How to Get Help

If you are looking for help, either for yourself or someone else, you may be tempted to call someone who advertises in a local publication or who comes up from a search of the Internet. You may, or may not, find a competent therapist in this manner. It is wise to check on the credentials of a psychotherapist. It is expected that competent therapists hold advanced academic degrees. They should be listed as members of professional organizations, such as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies or the American Psychological Association. Of course, they should be licensed to practice in your state. You can find competent specialists who are affiliated with local universities or mental health facilities or who are listed on the websites of professional organizations. You may, of course, visit our website (www.abct.org) and click on "Find a CBT Therapist"

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) is an interdisciplinary organization committed to the advancement of a scientific approach to the understanding and amelioration of problems of the human condition. These aims are achieved through the investigation and application of behavioral, cognitive, and other evidence-based principles to assessment, prevention, and treatment.