In 2014 the paper 'CAT at 30' summarised the evidence base and some key developments since Cognitive Analytic Therapy's beginnings. In the years since, the evidence base has developed further, including the publication of systematic reviews, and a Special Issue of Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice published in 2021.
The publication of the Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Analytic Therapy in 2024 also helped to collate summaries of research and evidence related to the model.
In this section, you can find a curated list of key publications, systematic reviews and summaries about the CAT evidence base, followed by a listing of selected recent research publications or summaries about cognitive analytic therapy since 2014. These papers are generally written for a professional or academic audience. Some also have accessible summary blogs. If you would like to write a blog about a piece of CAT research, please contact us.
Many of the more recent articles are open access. These are marked with an open padlock icon.
Please note that if you are an ACAT member or Friend, you have access to a full CAT bibliography listing. A further benefit (for ACAT members only) is access the digital version of the Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Analytic Therapy.
Balmain, N., Melia, Y., Dent, H. and Smith, K. (2021), A systematic review of service user’s experience of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT). Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12305
Read an accessible blog about the above study at this link: So, How Effective is Cognitive Analytic Therapy?
Green, C., Mannion, G., Gill, I., Hartley, S., Dunlop, B. . and Taylor, P. . (2025), Brief Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)-Informed Reformulation for Young People With Eating Disorders: A Case Series. Clin Psychol Psychother, 32: e70043. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.70043
Haw, R., Marsden, M., Hartley, S., Turpin, C. and Taylor, P. . (2024), A Brief Cognitive Analytic Therapy–Informed Approach for Young People That Have Self-Injured (CATCH-Y): A Case Series. Clin Psychol Psychother, 31: e2976. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2976
Headley, E., , , , , , & (2024). Types and mechanisms of idiographic change during guided self-help for anxiety. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 97, 498–517. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12536
Kellett, S., Brown, K., Au-Yeung, S. K., Tew, V., & Parry, G. (2024). Personal reformulation during the clinical associate psychologist apprenticeship: Exploratory mixed methods evaluation. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 00, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12459
Priddy, S., , , & (2024). A grounded theory of cognitive analytic reflective practice groups. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 00, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12557
Squire, A., Bristow, J., Wilkinson, O., Gaskell, C., Evans, M., & Kellett, S. (2024). Feasibility and acceptability of integrating repertory grids into reformulation and termination during cognitive analytic therapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000339
Taylor, P.J., Adeyemi, I., Marlow, K. et al. The Relational Approach to Treating Self-Harm (RELATE): study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial study of cognitive analytic therapy for adults who self-harm versus treatment at usual. Pilot Feasibility Stud 10, 101 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01526-z
Worsley, J., Young, D., Harrison, P., & Corcoran, R. (2024). Pilot Evaluation of a Remote Psychotherapy Service for Students Who Self-Harm: University–Community Outpatient Psychotherapy Engagement (U-COPE). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1):103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010103
Gaskell, C., Kellett, S., Simmonds-Buckley, M., Curran, J., Hetherington, J., & Delgadillo, J. (2023). Long-term psychotherapy in tertiary care: A practice-based benchmarking study. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 00, 1– 18. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12424
Kellett, S., Bee, C., Smithies, J., Aahdal, V., Simmonds-Buckley, M., Power, N., Dugen-Williams, C., Fallon, N. & Delgidallo, J. (2023). Cognitive–behavioural versus cognitive–analytic guided self-help for mild-to-moderate anxiety: a pragmatic, randomised patient preference trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 223(3):438-445.doi:10.1192/bjp.2023.78
Kellett., S. & Stockton, D. (2023) Treatment of obsessive morbid jealousy with cognitive analytic therapy: a mixed-methods quasi-experimental case study, British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 51:1, 96-114, DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2021.1929834
Moeini, F.R., Goodarzi, N., Dabbaghi, P., Mohsen A.R., & Ghasemzadeh, M.R. (2023). A randomized controlled trial of cognitive analytic versus compassion-focused therapy for PTSD in Iran-Iraq War Veterans. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health 0 0:0 https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2023-0027
Owen, K., Laphan, A., Gee, B. & Lince, K. (2023) Evaluating cognitive analytic therapy within a primary care psychological therapy service. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(3), 663- 673 https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjc.12430. This is not currently open access, but the Wiley link below will enable read-only access to the full paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/DHXZHKCKFUUYGJYDBRMI?target=10.1111/bjc.12430
Power, N., Kellett, S., & Gaskell, C. (2023). Effectiveness of cognitive analytic therapy for mixed anxiety and depression in the context of borderline traits: A quasi-experimental single case design evaluation. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 33(1), 34–46. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000281
Tinlin-Dixon, R. (2023). Using Cognitive Analytic Therapy as a Transdiagnostic Intervention for Comorbid Personality Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder: A Case Report of a 68 Woman’s Journey Toward the Integration of Dissociated Self-States. Clinical Case Studies, 23(2), 146-164. https://doi.org/10.1177/15346501231198483 (Original work published 2024)
Kellett, S., Alhadeff, L., Gaskell, C., & Simmonds-Buckley, M. (2022). Effectiveness of cognitive analytic therapy for bipolar affective disorder: A co-produced single subject cumulative treatment design with extended follow-up (A1/B/A2/C-FU). Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 95, 621–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12390
Mangion G., Simmonds-Buckley M., Kellett S.,Taylor P., Degnan A., Humphrey C., Freshwater K., Poggioli M,. Fiorani C. (2022). Modelling Identity Disturbance: A Network Analysis of the Personality Structure Questionnaire (PSQ). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. October 24;19(21):13793. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113793
Simmonds-Buckley, M., Osivwemu, E-O., Kellett, S., & Taylor, C. (2022)
The acceptability of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT): Meta-analysis and benchmarking of treatment refusal and treatment dropout rates,
Clinical Psychology Review, Volume 96, 102187, ISSN 0272-7358,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102187
Wray, A., Kellett, S., Bee, C., Smithies, J., Aadahl, V., Simmonds-Buckley, M., & McElhatton, C. (2022). The acceptability of cognitive analytic guided self-help in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 1-15. doi:10.1017/S1352465822000194
(Pre-publication version available via https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/187759/ )
In February 2021 the journal Psychology and Psychotherapy, Theory Research and Practice published a special issue on Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Research Developments and Insights, edited by Peter Taylor and Samantha Hartley. Five of the nine articles are open access. You can see the whole special issue at https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20448341/2021/94/S1
and individual papers are included in those listed below.
Balmain, N., Melia, Y., John, C., Dent, H. and Smith, K. (2021), Experiences of receiving cognitive analytic therapy for those with complex secondary care mental health difficulties. Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12326
Easton K, Kellett S, Cooper M, Millings A, Varela J, Parry G
Blending Cognitive Analytic Therapy With a Digital Support Tool: Mixed Methods Study Involving a User-Centered Design of a Prototype App
JMIR Ment Health 2021;8(2):e20213
URL: https://mental.jmir.org/2021/2/e20213
DOI: 10.2196/20213
Hallam, Craig & Simmonds-Buckley, Mel & Kellett, Stephen & Greenhill, Beth & Jones, Andrew. (2021). The acceptability, effectiveness, and durability of cognitive analytic therapy: Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12286
Jefferis, S., Fantarrow, Z. and Johnston, L. (2021), The torchlight model of mapping in cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) reformulation: A qualitative investigation. Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12311
Kellett K., & Stockton, D., (2021) Treatment of obsessive morbid jealousy with cognitive analytic therapy: a mixed-methods quasi-experimental case study, British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2021.1929834
Merzhvynska, M., Simmonds‐Buckley, M., Delgadillo, J. and Kellett, S. (2021), Trajectories of change in the therapeutic alliance during Cognitive Analytic Therapy for depression. Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12322
Read an accessible blog about the above study at this link: So, How Effective is Cognitive Analytic Therapy?
Kellett, S., & Lees, S. (2020). Quasi-experimental N = 1 evaluation of the effectiveness of cognitive analytic therapy for dependent personality disorder. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(3), 458–475. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000170
