Articulation of cognitive-behavioral therapy and neuropsychology: A scoping review

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and neuropsychology are areas of psychology that have a common focus of interest on cognitive processing. The present study aimed to map and describe in a systematic way information about the association between CBT and neuropsychology by means of a scoping review. The systematic search for empirical articles published between 2010 and 2020, without language restriction, was carried out in the Medline, PsycInfo, LILACS, and SciELO databases. We found 3,723 articles, of which 198 were duplicates, which were excluded, and 3,525 articles went on to double-blind screening. For full text reading, we selected 323 articles, while 143 of them were selected for analysis. Results showed the characteristics, methodological aspects, and possible associations identified in the studies, which were as follows: neuropsychological assessment (NPA) and CBT assessment; NPA and CBT intervention; neuropsychological intervention and CBT intervention; and CBT strategy in neuropsychological intervention. The most used interventions were classic CBT, rehabilitation, and cognitive training, with the use of psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and problem solving, among others, applied, on the whole, to psychiatric and neurological conditions. We conclude that a greater understanding of the possible connections between the two areas can benefit patients from the psychiatric and neurological clinic.

Automated summary

This study systematically reviewed the association between cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and neuropsychology. The findings showed that CBT and neuropsychology can be integrated in various ways, such as in assessments, interventions, and treatment strategies. The use of CBT in conjunction with neuropsychology can have positive effects on patients with psychiatric and neurological conditions.