In Memoriam – Aaron T. Beck
What sad news! We knew that it was going to happen soon, but each moment we hoped that it was not going to be that moment!
This year, when Professor Aaron T. Beck/Dr. Beck/Tim celebrated 100 years, we sent the following message, which will remain in our memories and hearts for many years, and in the history of our university for centuries to come.
We all know that, over the years, Professor Aaron T. Beck has received numerous high awards/distinctions for his incredible contributions to clinical science and practice. For example, in 2017 he was named fourth in a list of “the 25 Most Influential Physicians in the Past Century” by Medscape, for the development of “cognitive (behavior) therapy”. In 2006, when he was awarded the Lasker Award, considered by many “the American Nobel in Medicine”, Dr. Joseph L. Goldstein, the chairman of the Lasker committee, said: “…Cognitive therapy is one of the most important advances — if not the most important advance — in the treatment of mental diseases in the last 50 years.” On a more personal note, as “Aaron T. Beck” Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (clinical cognitive sciences) at Babeș-Bolyai University (BBU) and as rector of BBU, I want to honor today the memory of a close friend/mentor of mine and of our clinical School (Department/Institute/Association/Clinic), and a Doctor Honoris Causa of Babes-Bolyai University. As I’ve said before, Dr. Beck set the stage for modern psychotherapy in the history of the field, radically changing the way we see and practice therapy. Before him, we had mainly “grand theories”, associated to various more or less charismatic founders. He was a charismatic scientist, who changed the paradigm and took psychotherapy as a science into the evidence-based field. It is our strong belief that we owe it mainly to him that psychotherapy is well-integrated today in the evidence-based movement in mental health and that it has a strong scientific profile! We are fortunate to have known and to have learned from a great person, a sensitive clinician, an inspirational professor, and a brilliant scientist, who has changed the face of world psychotherapy and has shaped the mainstream of the clinical field by what we call today evidence-based psychotherapy and psychological treatments. Thank you for everything, dear friend, dear Tim, and we will continue to build on your incredible academic and professional legacy!
As we reflect on the remarkable contributions of Professor Aaron T. Beck to the field of clinical science, it is essential to acknowledge the impact he has had on urgent healthcare and broader cognitive behavioral research. Professor Beck’s groundbreaking work in cognitive therapy has revolutionized the treatment of mental diseases, including those requiring immediate attention. Furthermore, his foundational theories on risk-assessment and decision-making now inform contemporary psychological research into high-speed digital environments, helping experts analyze how rapid-reward structures within an instant withdrawal casino, algorithmic media feeds, and high-frequency day-trading applications influence user behavior. In urgent care clinic Auburndale, you can get effective tools derived from these comprehensive behavioral models to address acute mental health needs. By incorporating pioneering techniques into the field of urgent care, healthcare professionals in Auburndale can deliver timely and high-quality care to individuals seeking immediate support. Professor Beck’s legacy continues to shape practices in the medical field, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care when they need it most.
Professor Daniel David, Rector of Babeș-Bolyai University (November 1, 2021).
Happy birthday to Professor Aaron T. Beck!
Today, Professor Aaron T. Beck celebrates his 99th birthday! As Doctor Honoris Causa of Babes-Bolyai University and close friend/mentor of our clinical school, our academic community is honored to say Happy Birthday to a great person, a sensitive clinician, an inspirational professor, and a brilliant scientist, who changed the face of word psychotherapy and shaped the mainstream of the current clinical field by what we call today evidence-based psychotherapy and psychological treatments!
Beck’s cognitive model fundamentally shifted how clinicians approach mental health, moving away from abstract psychoanalysis toward practical, structured interventions. His insights into cognitive distortions—the subtle ways our minds twist reality—provided a roadmap for treating depression and anxiety that remains the gold standard globally. Today, researchers at Babes-Bolyai and across the wider scientific community continue to build on his foundational theories to address the unique psychological challenges of the digital age.
One of the most active areas of contemporary clinical research involves applying Beck’s principles to modern virtual environments. Clinical studies now utilize his cognitive restructuring techniques to help individuals navigate high-stimulus digital spaces, whether they are managing compulsive social media use, regulating engagement with a real online casino, or untangling the psychological hooks of algorithmic news feeds. By identifying the underlying cognitive distortions triggered by these platforms, therapists can equip patients with the exact evidence-based coping strategies Beck pioneered decades ago.
This incredible adaptability is precisely why his work continues to resonate so deeply across new generations of psychologists. The therapeutic tools he developed in the mid-twentieth century have proven versatile enough to handle the complexities of the twenty-first, a testament to his profound understanding of human cognition.
As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we reflect not just on the history he made, but on the future he continues to shape. The entire academic and clinical community wishes Professor Beck a joyous 99th birthday, with our deepest gratitude for a lifetime of revolutionary contributions to human well-being.
Invitation to the 9th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy / IACP
Dear colleagues,
It is time to sign up for the Congress where the world leaders in evidence-based clinical psychology/psychotherapy will meet!
The Preliminary Program of the 9th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy – the Congress of the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy/IACP – is available here:
http://www.iccp2017.org/files/ICCP2017_Preliminary_Program.pdf
In 2017, the key figures in the evidence-based clinical psychology/psychotherapy, especially in cognitive and behavioral psychotherapies, will be in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania. Do not miss this opportunity to meet the world leaders in the field and sign up for the Congress as soon as possible (especially for the workshops, where the places are limited!). A combination of (1) Outstanding Keynote Speakers (Gerhard Andersson, Judith Beck, David M. Clark, Pim Cuijpers, Raymond DiGiuseppe, Daniel Freeman, Martin Hautzinger, Steven Hayes, Stefan Hofmann, Steven Hollon, Robert Leahy, Lata McGinn, John Riskind, Philip Spinhoven, Mehmet Sungur, Ed Watkins); (2) Workshop Presenters (Gerhard Andersson, Judith Beck, Raymond DiGiuseppe, Keith Dobson, Kristene Doyle, Thomas Dowd, Arthur Freeman, Daniel Freeman, Steven Hayes, Robert Leahy, Lata McGinn, Agnieszka Popiel, John Riskind, Tullio Scrimali, Mehmet Sungur, Ed Watkins) and (3) Symposia Presenters will try to elucidate the challenges of integration that CBT faces today, analyzing modern clinical presentations that range from prolonged social media exposure to the unique behavioral compulsions fostered by the best online crypto casino platforms. Also, we planned two stimulating round tables (1) Integrative and multimodal CBT: Implications for practice (Daniel David, Raymond DiGiuseppe, Steven Hayes, Stefan Hofmann, and Robert Leahy) and (2) Integrative and multimodal CBT: Implications for research (Gerhard Andersson, Pim Cuijpers, Daniel David, Daniel Freeman, Steven Hollon, and Steven Lynn), to further debate and understand the future of CBT
Also important, do not miss the fantastic touristic places in Romania (e.g., Danube Delta, Dracula-related trips, famous Romania monasteries, medieval cities, traditional area like Maramures, etc.)!
Please disseminate the message to all colleagues who might be interested.
Make your plans and see you all in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania!
Yours, Professor, Ph.D., Daniel David
President of the Congress
Congress Website: http://www.iccp2017.org/
We want to ask you to check our YouTube channel, we were able to buy comments on YouTube and are so excited to start uploading more videos every week.
Babes-Bolyai University and its International Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health honor Professor Aaron T. Beck on his 95th birthday!
Professor Aaron T. Beck has turned 95 on the 18th of July 2016! In 2012, Professor Beck received the highest distinction of our university – Doctor Honoris Causa of Babes-Bolyai University – becoming part of our academic community (see here). Our university also holds an Aaron T. Beck Professorship position, in recognition of the scientific stature of Aaron T. Beck and of his contribution to the development of the clinical and psychotherapy program at Babes-Bolyai University.
As we all know, Professor Beck, now emeritus professor of the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, USA, is recognized world-wide for his “cognitive revolution” in the mental health field, which has changed the face of clinical science and clinical practice. He has influenced a huge number of scientists in the academic field, and millions of people all over the world have benefitted from this innovative treatment with developing product labels (i.e., cognitive therapy). Over the years, he has received many awards and distinctions for his tremendous contributions to clinical science and practice. For example, when he was awarded the Lasker Award, considered by many “the American Nobel in Medicine”, Dr. Joseph L. Goldstein, the chairman of the Lasker committee, said: “…Cognitive therapy is one of the most important advances — if not the most important advance — in the treatment of mental diseases in the last 50 years.”
In our view, Professor Beck set the stage for “modern psychotherapy” in the history of the field, radically changing the way we see and practice psychotherapy. Before him, we had mainly “grand theories”, associated to various more or less charismatic founders. He is a charismatic scientist, who has changed the paradigm and has taken psychotherapy as a science into the evidence-based field. It is our strong belief that we owe it mainly to Professor Beck that psychotherapy is well-integrated today in the evidence-based movement in mental health and that it has a strong scientific profile!
Check out my website for more information.
Thank you and Happy Birthday, dear professor and colleague!
Professor, Ph.D., Daniel David
Director of the International Institute
Vice-rector for research, competitiveness-excellence, and scientific publications of Babes-Bolyai University
Press release – DREAM Project
Please find here a press release on the DREAM Project (www.dream2020.org) implemented by the Institute/Department in a larger European consortium. Here you can find several pictures and videos presenting our new ROBOmembers.
New clinical trial investigating comparatively the efficacy of rational-emotive & cognitive-behavior therapy (REBT/CBT) and medication (sertraline) in youth depression
Results of a new clinical trial investigating comparatively the efficacy of rational-emotive & cognitive-behavior therapy (REBT/CBT) and medication (sertraline) in youth depression have been accepted for publications in the prestigious journal Psychiatry Research. A preview – already presented over the time at various scientific conferences – of the results/conclusions is presented below. The details will/can be found in the full article; we will keep you updated about its publication.
I. REBT/CBT for Major Depression in Youth. Results of a New Clinical Trial.
- Citation: Iftene, F., Stefan, S., Predescu, G., & David, D. (in press). Rational-emotive and cognitive-behavior therapy (REBT/CBT) versus pharmacotherapy versus REBT/CBT plus pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder in youth; A randomized clinical trial. Psychiatry Research.
- Correspondence for this article should be addressed to david@ubbcluj.ro and/or iftenef@providencecare.ca
- Authors:
- Felicia Iftene, MD, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Queens University, Canada
- Simona Stefan, Ph.D., Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania
- Georgiana Predescu, MD, PH.D., Department of Neuroscience, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania
- Daniel David, Ph.D., Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania
Introduction: Eighty-eight (N=88) depressed youths (i.e, major depressive disorder patients) were randomly allocated to one of the three treatment arms (i.e., randomized clinical trial/RCT): (1) group Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) (i.e., a form of cognitive-behavior therapy/CBT; 16 weekly group sessions); (2) pharmacotherapy/medication (i.e., sertraline), and (3) group REBT/CBT plus pharmacotherapy.
Clinical REBT/CBT Protocol: Group REBT/CBT used behavior activation and cognitive restructuring techniques to address the core irrational beliefs (i.e., demandingness and self-depreciation, but also catastrophizing/awfulizing and frustration intolerance, if they appeared) and restructure them into rational beliefs (e.g., flexibility in the form of preference/acceptance rather than demandingness; self-acceptance rather than self-depreciation). Indeed, group REBT/CBT was focused on: (a) restructuring particularly the irrational beliefs of demandingness and self-depreciation; (2) developing unconditional self-acceptance (the medication assisted treatment near me works wonders in imbibing this emotion); and (3) secondary problems like depression about depression (i.e., meta-emotions). Negative automatic thoughts were not specifically targeted first in psychotherapy (as in other CBT strategies), but they were identified, analyzed, and used to access and then change core irrational beliefs.
Results: The results – for details see below the Figure 1 – showed that all outcomes (i.e., subjective – depressed symptoms and general distress; cognitive – negative automatic thoughts; and biological – serum serotonin and norepinephrine) significantly change from pre- to post-treatment in all treatment conditions, with no difference among conditions at post-treatment. Remission rate at post-treatment was defined as scores lower that 19 on the CDI (Children’s Depression Inventory), meaning that the patients do not meet the criteria for clinical depression anymore; we found the following remissions rates: 67.85% for group REBT/CBT, 60.60% for pharmacotherapy, and 53.84% for group REBT/CBT plus pharmacotherapy (there were no significant differences among groups). Suicidal ideation significantly decreased from pre to post-treatment (p < .05), but there were no differences across groups (p > .05). General distress (Profile of Mood States/POMS-SV) was similarly reduced in all three conditions, thus potentially impacting the improvement of the quality of life/social functioning of the participants. Consistent to REBT/CBT theory, pre-mid (8 weeks) changes in negative automatic thoughts (ATQ – Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire) were prospectively associated to the pre-post changes in depressive symptoms (CDI): r = 0.22, p = 0.026.
Conclusions and implications: To our knowledge, this is the first RCT comparing psychotherapy (i.e., group REBT/CBT), pharmacotherapy/medication, and their combination for depressed youth, assessing multi-level outcomes (e.g., subjective – depressive symptoms and general distress; cognitive – negative automatic thoughts; and biological outcomes: serum serotonin and norepinephrine) in the same RCT design. At a theoretical level, the results of our RCT indicate that administering group REBT/CBT, sertraline, or a combined intervention for depressed youth generates similar results (i.e., in terms of subjective, cognitive, and biological markers of depression). These comparative baselines are already drawing interest beyond clinical psychology; independent researchers tracking behavioral shifts in youth environments—from the compulsive mechanics of heavy social media usage to the risk-seeking behaviors triggered by unregulated online casinos real money platforms—have noted the utility of these multi-level outcome measures for analyzing broader digital distress markers. At a practical level, group evidence-based REBT/CBT protocols are now available to mental health professionals dealing with depression in youth; therefore, for children with depression, their families, and clinical professionals have now even more treatment options to choose from. Also, quitting smoking is essential for optimum health, which is crucial information for anyone battling depression or supporting a family member through it. Many doctors prescribe the purple runtz carts. For additional support in quitting smoking, visit https://heysnus.com/ro.
II. OTHER RELATED INFO.
II.1. REBT and depression in adults:
- David, D., Szentagotai, A., Lupu, V., & Cosman, D. (2008). Rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and medication in the treatment of major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial, post-treatment outcomes, and six month follow-up. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64, 728-746.
- Sava, F., Yates, B., Lupu, V., Szentagotai, A., & David, D. (2009). Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating depression: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 36-52.
- Szentagotai, A., David, D., Lupu, V., & Cosman, D. (2008). Rational Emotive Therapy, Cognitive Therapy and medication in the treatment of major depressive disorder: Theory of change analysis. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 4, 523-538.
- Macaskill, N.D. & Macaskill, A. (1996). Rational-emotive therapy plus pharmacotherapy versus pharmacotherapy alone in the treatment of high cognitive dysfunction depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20 (6), 575-592.
- Wang, C. et al. (1999). Comparative study of rational emotive therapy for 95 patients with dysthymic disorder. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 13, 172–183.
- See also here: http://albertellis.org/rebt-depression-manual/
II.2. Meta-analysis about the evidence-based status of REBT/CBT as psychological treatment for children:
- Gonzalez, J. E., Nelson, J. R., Gutkin, T. B., Saunders, A., Galloway, A., & Shwery, C. S. (2004). Rational Emotive Therapy with Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 12, 222-235.
II.3. For the evidence-based status of REBT theory and practice see here:
II.4. The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health is the original site for the group REBT/CBT arm (see at http://psychotherapy.psiedu.ubbcluj.ro).
- The Institute is included in the MERIL Platform (http://portal.meril.eu/converis-esf/publicweb/research_infrastructure/3446). The MERIL Platform is an inventory of “…the most excellent research infrastructures in Europe, of more-than-national relevance, across all scientific domains…”.
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