The Future of Cognitive Behavioral Interventions Within Behavioral Medicine

There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of cognitive behavioral treatment within behavioral medicine. There are several limitations to the current body of literature, including external validity of findings from randomized controlled trials, dissemination of findings, and the use of CBT when patients are unmotivated to make behavior change. The current paper proposes several future directions to address these limitations. Solutions to be explored in future research include practical behavioral trials, stepped care approaches, remote technology approaches such as telephone and Internet-based treatments, and the integration of motivational interviewing into cognitive behavioral treatment.