Psychological therapies are among the most effective treatments for common mental health problems—however, we still know relatively little about how exactly they improve symptoms. Here, we demonstrate the power of combining theory with computational methods to parse effects of different components of cognitive-behavioral therapies onto underlying mechanisms. Specifically, we present data from a series of randomized-controlled experiments testing the effects of brief components of behavioral and cognitive therapies on different cognitive processes, using well-validated behavioral measures and associated computational models. A goal setting intervention, based on behavioral activation therapy activities, reliably and selectively reduced sensitivity to effort when deciding how to act to gain reward. By contrast, a cognitive restructuring intervention, based on cognitive therapy materials, reliably and selectively reduced the tendency to attribute negative everyday events to self-related causes. The effects of each intervention were specific to these respective measures. Our approach provides a basis for beginning to understand how different elements of common psychotherapy programs may work.

中文翻译：

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认知行为治疗的不同组成部分影响特定的认知机制

心理疗法是治疗常见心理健康问题最有效的方法之一，然而，我们对它们究竟如何改善症状仍然知之甚少。在这里，我们展示了将理论与计算方法相结合的力量，可以解析认知行为疗法的不同组成部分对潜在机制的影响。具体来说，我们提供了一系列随机对照实验的数据，使用经过充分验证的行为测量和相关的计算模型来测试行为和认知疗法的简短组成部分对不同认知过程的影响。基于行为激活疗法活动的目标设定干预措施，在决定如何采取行动以获得奖励时，可靠且有选择性地降低了对努力的敏感度。相比之下，基于认知治疗材料的认知重建干预措施可靠且有选择性地减少了将负面日常事件归因于自我相关原因的倾向。每项干预措施的效果都是针对这些相应措施的。我们的方法为开始理解常见心理治疗计划的不同要素如何发挥作用提供了基础。