Long-Term Effectiveness of Rumination-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Self-Help in Preventing Depression and Anxiety:A Multiple-Baseline Design

Abstract

Rumination-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (RFCBT) is a novel form of CBT that specifically targets rumination—a cognitive vulnerability factor underlying the onset and maintenance of depression and anxiety. RFCBT has been proven effective in both the treatment and prevention of depression and anxiety. The current investigation administered RFCBT as a structured self-help intervention with minimal therapist support to 21 female university students presenting with a high tendency to ruminate or worry. To examine the temporal changes in each participant, we adopted a multiple-baseline design. Furthermore, a follow-up was conducted after 12 months to investigate the long-term effectiveness of the intervention. Visual inspection of the graphs indicated that rumination, worry, depression, and anxiety decreased during the intervention period, and this trend persisted throughout the follow-up period. Based on these findings, the effectiveness of RFCBT in preventing depression and anxiety, as well as future directions for further research, are discussed.