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The concept and definition of low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy
Open accessAbstract
There is confusion in the terminology used to describe different forms of cognitive behaviour therapy, in particular low intensity CBT. Such confusion has implications for research, clinical practice and service organisation. This thought-piece aims to describe the key components of low intensity CBT in comparison to brief high intensity standard CBT. It is proposed that low intensity CBT (i) utilises self-help materials, (ii) is six hours or less of contact time with each contact being typically 30 minutes or less, and (iii) any input can be provided by trained practitioners or supporters. These components distinguish the intervention from brief high intensity intensity CBT which (i) is based on the standard evidence-based CBT treatment, with therapy contact time 50% or less than the full CBT intervention, and (ii) is usually delivered by someone with a core mental health professional qualification or equivalent. Brief CBT can refer to either low intensity CBT and/or brief high intensity CBT. We hope that making the distinction between these different forms of intervention stimulates debate and helps consistent and appropriate categorisation for future research and practice.
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“Low-intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a scalable intervention which could be widely disseminated during the pandemic, and is defined as a CBT intervention which utilises self-help materials as either unguided or guided interventions, with no more than 6 h of guidance (Shafran et al., 2021).”
From Unguided low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomised trial (2021) · cites this paper as Shafran et al., 2021
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“…whereas other reviews included different forms of brief psychological treatments operationalised as interventions of fewer than 16-20 sessions within a time-limited framework, regardless of the use of self-help materials (e.g., Churchill et al., 2002; Hazell, Hayward, Cavanagh & Strauss, 2016).”
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Items 101–104 of 104
Lowe, W. U. A., Carroll, P., Lades, L. K., & Martínez‐Pastor, B. (2026) · Sustainable Cities and Society · doi:10.1016/j.scs.2026.107771
Zhu, J., Zhang, C., Xinpeng, X., Lu, D., Pan, W., & Li, X. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1937285
Mukai, K., Matsuura, N., Hosoi, Y., Sakurai, M., Yamanishi, K., & Matsunaga, H. (2026) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina62101970
Kunorubwe, T., Wynne, J., & O'Leary, C. (2026) · The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist · doi:10.1017/s1754470x26100634
Metadata
- Authors
- Shafran, R., Myles-Hooton, P., Bennett, S., & Öst, L.-G.
- Affiliations
- University College London (GB)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Shafran, Roz
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-03
- Volume
- 138
- Pages
- 103803
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3118925636
- Cited by
- 104
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 6
- FWCI
- 16.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- discovery.ucl.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- self-help materials, practitioner qualifications, terminology, evidence-based treatment
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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