In the present study, we used the alignment method to minimize measurement bias to examine several central hypotheses of the cognitive model among adults living on four continents ( n = 752): North America ( n = 103 female = 29.1%), Europe ( n = 404 female = 36.4%), South America ( n = 108 female = 18.5%), and Asia ( n = 136 female = 19.9%). Beck and other scholars established the theoretical foundations of CBT among North American populations, yet surprisingly few studies have examined central hypotheses of the cognitive model of depression among people living in non-Western regions.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely tested and empirically supported psychological treatments for depression.