A Comparison of Secular and Religious Versions of Cognitive Therapy with Depressed Christian College Students

This study was designed to answer two related questions: (a) Could Beck's cognitive-behavioral treatment of depression be efficaciously employed in a religious population, and (b) would the efficacy of Beck's cognitive-behavioral treatment of depression be enhanced if it was integrated with the subjects’ religious beliefs? A multiple cutoff procedure was utilized in the selection of subjects for a secular cognitive behavior modification group, a religious cognitive behavior modification group, and a waiting list control group. The results indicated that the secular and the religious cognitive behavior modification groups were significantly more effective than the waiting list control group in alleviating depression. No significant differences were found between secular and the religious cognitive behavior modification groups. The reductions in depression were maintained at a one-month follow-up. The results relevant to Beck's cognitive-behavioral therapy of depression and to the treatment of religious patients are discussed.