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Rational-emotive therapy vs general cognitive-behavior therapy in the treatment of low self-esteem and related emotional disturbances

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Abstract

The present study compared the relative effectiveness of “preferential” rational-emotive therapy (RET) and general cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) in the treatment of low self-esteem and related emotional disturbances. Thirty-three subjects were randomly assigned to RET, CBT, and waiting-list control (WLC) groups. Therapy consisted of 8 weekly 1 1/2hour group sessions. At posttest, both the RET and CBT groups changed significantly more than the WLC group on all measures: self-esteem, depression, general and social-evaluative anxiety, anger, and rational thinking. On the self-esteem and self-efficacy measures, the CBT group changed significantly more than the RET group. At a six-month follow-up, both the RET and CBT groups maintained their gains, and there were no significant differences between groups on any measure.

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Warren, R., McLellarn, R. & Ponzoha, C. Rational-emotive therapy vs general cognitive-behavior therapy in the treatment of low self-esteem and related emotional disturbances. Cogn Ther Res 12, 21–37 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01172778

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