Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders: A Meta-Analysis of Recent Literature
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Purpose of Review: Effective treatment of anxiety-related disorders is crucial, considering the prevalence of such disorders and their association with poor psychosocial functioning. To evaluate the most recent evidence on the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety-related disorders in adults, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials published since 2017. Recent Findings: Ten studies with a total of 1250 participants met the inclusion criteria. Seven of these studies examined PTSD. The findings demonstrated small placebo-controlled effects of CBT on target disorder symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.24, p < 0.05) and depression (Hedges’ g = 0.15, p = n.s). When examining only PTSD studies, effects were reduced (Hedges’ g = 0.14, p < 0.05). Heterogeneity in most analyses was very low, and no publication bias was found. Summary: Effect sizes from placebo-controlled trials from the past 5 years appear to be smaller than those in prior meta-analyses. The findings are largely driven by research on PTSD, with few placebo-controlled trials of other anxiety-related disorders published since 2017.
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Remission rates following CBT for depression and anxiety disorders are still disappointing, leading to a debate about stagnating outcomes of CBT.
“However, it has become evident that remission rates following CBT for depression and anxiety disorders are still disappointing [5], leading to a debate about the stagnating outcomes of CBT in depression [6] and anxiety disorders [7].”
From Process-based therapy vs. routine-CBT for difficult-to-treat mood and anxiety disorders: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [7]
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Anxiety Disorders in Clinical Practice (Clinical Observation and Literature Review)
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“CBT is considered an evidence-based and cost-effective treatment method for common mental health problems that is often provided individually in face-to-face settings (Bhattacharya et al., 2023; Butler et al., 2006; Myhr & Payne, 2006).”
Luo, X., Zheng, S., Cheng, Y. N., Liu, S., Zeng, S., Fang, L., Du, S., Li, W., Yang, H., Huang, Z., et al. (2025) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1155/da/8836588 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Kunorubwe, T. (2025) · The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist · doi:10.1017/s1754470x25100263 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Psychological rehabilitation: cognitive behavioral therapy
Солохина, Т. А., & Михайловна, Л. Е. (2025) · Реабилитология. · doi:10.17749/2949-5873/rehabil.2024.27 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Joybari, F. M., Joybari, B. B., & Abbasi, G. (2024) · Quarterly Journal of Child Mental Health · doi:10.61186/jcmh.11.4.69 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Westhoff, M., Bhattacharya, S., & Hofmann, S. G. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-96023-6.00024-5 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationStangier, U., Kohl, V., Görg, N., Sendig, L., Hufschmidt, B., Bonarius, D., Nemani, A., Ebert, M., & Hofmann, S. G. (2024) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-024-08689-3 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationDutta, R. (2025) · International Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy · doi:10.1007/s41811-025-00261-4 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“…studies have proved cognitive behavioral therapy and other related psychotherapeutic methods to be the gold standard in dealing with individuals’ cognitive bias and misinterpretations, which aligns with pharmacological treatments (Bhattacharya et al. 2023; Curtis et al. 2021; David et al. 2018).”
The impact of daily self-reiki on perceived stress and well-being in college students
Hocking, N. J. (2025) · Journal of American College Health · doi:10.1080/07448481.2025.2550386 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“To assess changes in stress and well-being, the PSS-10 and GWB were administered again at Weeks 4 and 8.”
Clinicians’ attitudes towards videoconferencing cognitive behavioural therapy: an exploratory survey
Vernmark, K., Norlin, M., & Andersson, G. (2026) · The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist · doi:10.1017/s1754470x26100567 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“…has demonstrated effectiveness across a wide array of psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stressdisorder (PTSD), somatic conditions andinsomnia (Bhattacharya et al ., 2023; Hofmann et al ., 2012).”
Незнанов, Н. Г., Tanashyan, M. M., Akarachkova, E. S., Amelin, A. V., Bogolepova, A. N., Vasileva, A. V., Ермоленко, Н. А., Zakharov, V. V., Лебедева, А. В., Maksimova, M. Y., et al. (2024) · S S Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry · doi:10.17116/jnevro2024124121126 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
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Connecting for well-being: a role-based network analysis of online mental health communities
Akar, E. (2025) · Behaviour and Information Technology · doi:10.1080/0144929x.2025.2484393 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Treating complex PTSD with Schema Therapy, ImRs and EMDR: a review and case study
van Hemert, M. T. C., de Jong, P. M., Brouwer, T. R., Zoon, L., Gunst, E., Claes, L., & Morrens, M. (2025) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008066.2025.2573616 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Queirolo, L., Boscolo, A., Tommaso, C., Otello, M., Facco, E., Zanette, G., Stellini, E., & Navalesi, P. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-40770-6 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Meta-analyses of established stress-regulation approaches including mindfulness 75,76 , CBT 77 and HRV biofeedback 78 typically report modest to large improvements (d ≈ 0.2–0.8).”
InfluentialEffect of app-based mindfulness on extinction recall – a 7T-fMRI study
Björkstrand, J., Olsson, E., Clancy, O., Möller, S., Björkman-Burtscher, I. M., Raheja, N., Sjöström, D., Persiani, M. T. L., Staiano, W., & Kirk, U. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-45569-z · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Pahlen, L., Fechtelpeter, J., Hufschmidt, B., Kohl, V., Ebert, M., Fiehn, H., Nemani, A., Hofmann, S. G., & Stangier, U. (2026) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2026.2666624 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationSong, X., & Jang, J. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16050830 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“For anxiety, a meta-analysis by Bhattacharya et al. (2023) found that CBT had smaller effect sizes compared to placebo (Hedges’ g = 0.24).”
InfluentialBaiardini, I., & Dimaggio, G. (2023) · QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA · doi:10.3280/qpc52-2023oa16172 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Li, Y., Liu, X., Guo, Z., Lai, L., Bryant, R. A., Zhang, T., Song, H., Mi, T., & Ren, Z. (2025) · Stress and Health · doi:10.1002/smi.70124
Westhoff, M., Berg, M., Rief, W., & Hofmann, S. G. (2023) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/ch4ng
Self-citationMaladaptive health anxiety: the application of remedial remote cognitive behavioral therapy.
Melehin, A. I., & Moscow, R. (2023) · Russian Journal of Telemedicine and E-Health · doi:10.29188/2712-9217-2023-9-2-29-39
Salgado, M. E. (2023) · Clínica Contemporánea · doi:10.5093/cc2023a15
Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Reducing Anxiety in Middle-Aged Women
Rinaldi, M. R., & Musawwamah, Q. A. (2024) · Tazkiya Journal of Psychology · doi:10.15408/tazkiya.v12i1.32225
“Notably, meta-analyses of CBT research have consistently identified high effect sizes in the majority of treatment studies (Bhattacharya et al., 2023; Hanrahan et al., 2013).”
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Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.005.0001
What Is Process-Based Therapy?
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0002
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0009
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.002.0006
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0006
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0007
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.002.0004
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0004
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0008
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.002.0007
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0001
A Process-Based Approach to Psychotherapy
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.001.0001
Network Case Conceptualization
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0005
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.003.0003
Ong, C. W., & Lee, E. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197696378.002.0003
A comparative study on persuasive strategies in anxiety disorder application
Zailani, A. U., Ahmad, W. N. W., & Tuah, N. M. (2025) · AIP conference proceedings · doi:10.1063/5.0299316
Harazni, L., Malak, M. Z., & Ayed, A. (2025) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.70166
Diondet, S., Heissler, R., & Preiss, M. (2025) · Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1007/s10942-025-00627-9
“Comparisons of CBT with placebo controls yield more modest effect sizes (small to moderate) than those against WL controls, offering more accurate evaluations by isolating its true effectiveness (Carpenter et al., 2018; Bhattacharya et al., 2023).”
Adaptations of the Original Model of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Davies, J., Salkovskis, P., Laidlaw, K., & Beck, J. S. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009090940.010
Efficacy of CBT: A Brief Outline and Review
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Evaluating Anxiety Intervention with Linear Mixed-Effects Models and Lasso Regression
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“…studies have shown that concreteness training plays a positive role in reducing worry and alleviating anxiety [8], while cognitive restructuring, as a core technique of cognitive-behavioral therapy, has demonstrated significant effectiveness in anxiety interventions among university students [5].”
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Teletherapy for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
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“CBT’s effectiveness in treating psychological disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Öst et al., 2023; Bhattacharya et al., 2023).”
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Separation Anxiety Presenting as Severe School Behavioral Dysregulation in an Immigrant Child
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- Authors
- Bhattacharya, S., Goicoechea, C., Heshmati, S., Carpenter, J. K., & Hofmann, S. G.
- Affiliations
- Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
- Universidad de Granada (ES)
- Claremont Graduate University (US)
- Boston University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hofmann, Stefan G.
- Venue
- Current Psychiatry Reports
- Published
- 2022-12-19
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19-30
- ISSN
- 1523-3812 (ISSN-L)
- 1535-1645
- PMC
- PMC9834105
- OpenAlex
- W4311928438
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 7
- FWCI
- 2.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Current Psychiatry Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Repository of the University of Granada (University of Granada) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
- James S. McDonnell Foundation
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- cognitive behavioral therapy, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, treatment efficacy, adults
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Humans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome
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