The importance of the cognitive theory of change in cognitive therapy of depression.

This commentary addresses the article by Tang and De-Rubeis (in press), in which they propose that symptom change over the early course of cognitive therapy (CT) for depression is not due to nonspecific factors, as proposed by Ilardi and Craighead (1994), because cognitive interventions are implemented during this stage. Although both articles raise important considerations regarding the necessary and sufficient treatment components of CT and the temporal course of change in CT, I argue here that neither article adequately addresses that which is specific to CT, namely, the cognitive theory of change. Empirical findings are reviewed regarding change In cognition during CT, and suggestions for future research are proposed that evaluate the specificity of CT in terms of the cognitive theory of change.