Ongoing Research
At the moment (2006), we have six major randomized clinical trials, covering the most important psychological disorders.
You can find a brief description of each project below. A more detailed description, containing the procedure and the
(preliminary) results, will be presented when data collecting and preliminary analyses will be conducted. For more details
and/or for information about other new grants in which we are involved, please contact Dr. Daniel DAVID at
danieldavid@psychology.ro
1. CT versus REBT versus medication (fluoxetine) in the treatment of major depressive disorder; A randomized clinical
trial. Albert Ellis Institute, SUA & National Council of Research, MEdC (2001)2004-(2005)2006 (Director, PI: Dr. Daniel
DAVID; Scientific Coordinator: Dr. Mircea MICLEA; Pharmacotherapy coordinators: Dr. Doina COSMAN, Dr. Petrinela
CRACIUN, and Dr. Viorel LUPU).• 170 patients randomly distributed in three groups: CT, REBT, and pharmacotherapy
(fluoxetine; reference treatment); completers: 151.• Outcome study (e.g., Primary outcomes: depression, measured by
both HRSD and BDI), theory of change (e.g., Primary mechanisms: changing irrational/dysfunctional cognitions into
rational/functional cognitions), and cost-effectiveness. • Scientific audit: Albert Ellis Institute, SUA (2005) and Babes-
Bolyai University-Department of Psychology: Internal Review Board (2005 and 2006). • (Preliminary) Main Results:
o No differences among treatment conditions at post-test were observed. A small superior effect of REBT (significant)
and CT (non-significant) over medication at 6 months follow-up was noted on HRSD only. The impact of the treatment
conditions on the outcome measures seems mediated by changing dysfunctional/irrational cognitions into
functional/rational cognitions. A change in implicit demandingness seems more highly associated with both reduced
depression and relapse prevention. Both REBT and CT seem more cost-effective than medication in the case of MD.
Note: The results were first presented in 2005 at the Congress of the European Association of Behavioral and Cognitive
Therapies and then published (in Romania) or submitted for publication in international Journals (2006).
2. CBT (CT and REBT) (including virtual reality techniques) versus medication versus combined treatment in the
treatment of ADHD; A multisite randomized clinical trial. Ministry of Education and Research, 2006-2009 (Director, PI: Dr.
Daniel DAVID; Scientific Coordinator: Dr. Anca DOBREAN; Pharmacotherapy coordinator: Dr. Felicia IFTENE).• 200
patients• Outcome study, theory of change, and cost-effectiveness
3. CBT (CT and REBT) versus medication versus combined treatment in the treatment of depressive disorders in
children and adolescents; A randomized clinical trial. Ministry of Education and Research, 2006-2009 (Director, PI: Dr.
Felicia IFTENE; Scientific Coordinator: Dr. Daniel DAVID).• 180 patients • Outcome study, theory of change, and cost-
effectiveness
4. CBT (CT and REBT) versus CBT+Virtual reality therapy in the treatment of specific phobias; A randomized clinical trial
(e.g., specific phobias). Ministry of Education and Research, 2006-2009 (Director, PI: Dr. Mircea MICLEA; Scientific
Coordinator: Dr. Daniel DAVID).• 180 patients • Outcome study, theory of change, and cost-effectiveness
5. CBT (CT and REBT) versus medication versus combined treatment in the treatment of errectile dysfunction; A
randomized clinical trial. Ministry of Education and Research, 2006-2009 (Director, PI: Dr. Ioan COMAN; CBT Scientific
Coordinator: Dr. Daniel DAVID).• about 180 patients • Outcome study, theory of change, and cost-effectiveness
6. CBT (CT and REBT) versus medication versus combined treatment in the treatment of obesity; A randomized clinical
trial. Ministry of Education and Research, 2006-2009 (Director, PI: Dr. Constantin IONESCU-TIRGOVISTE; CBT
Scientific Coordinators: Dr. Daniel DAVID and Dr. Bogdan ION).• about 180 patients •
7. The role of cognitive factors in emotions: the impact of response hopes and response in anxiety and pain;.National
Council for Scientific Research in Higher Education (CNCSIS) Grant 2260. (PI: Aurora Szentagotai) .
Outcome study, theory of change, and cost-effectiveness
Our research has been featured in major Romanian Magazines and Newspapers (selection, 2007):
Cotidianul: http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=9171&art=24116&cHash=2e488ee581
Psihologia Azi (Psychology Today): http://www.psihologia.ro/nou/index.php?pagina=articol_detalii&pid=74
http://www.psihologia.ro/nou/index.php?pagina=articol_detalii&pid=75
http://psychotherapy.psiedu.ubbcluj.ro – The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health
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Clujeanul: http://www.clujeanul.ro/articol/ziar/cluj/am-ajuns-in-viitor/14418/14/
http://www.clujeanul.ro/articol/ziar/cluj/star-trek-pe-viu-la-cluj-napoca/17611/14/
Ieseanul: http://www.ieseanul.ro/articol/ziar/iasi/am-ajuns-in-viitor/14372/177/
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