Psychotherapists normally focus on events within the lifespan of a patient and examine proximal (mechanistic) causes of depression (e.g., maladaptive behaviors or dysfunctional beliefs in the case of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy). Recent advances in Evolutionary Psychology, however, propose that low mood (mild/moderate depression) can have adaptive functions, signaling evolutionary fitness problems. This leads to the empirical question whether interventions on distal (or ultimate) causes of depression (besides interventions on proximal causes) can have therapeutic value.

Cognitive Evolutionary Therapy (CET) for depression follows the structure of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, but adds interventions targeted at increasing evolutionary fitness. See the CET manual for more info.

WHAT CONDITIONS DOES COGNITIVE EVOLUTIONARY THERAPY ADDRESS?

Cognitive Evolutionary Therapy was clinically tested for depression. It has proven at least as effective as the gold standard Cognitive Therapy in reducing depressive symptomatology, with the added benefit of increased functioning at the end of intervention compared to Cognitive Therapy. The World Health Organization lists depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Since depression is the costliest medical condition, improved functioning can translate into substantial societal cost savings.

Cognitive Evolutionary Therapy may also help other conditions, such as Anxiety Disorders, when it is used as an add-on to classical cognitive approaches.