Cognitive behavioral therapy in Italy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Italy started to be disseminated in the early 1970s, and from there, it has been continued to develop. This evolution has included integrating a number of different approaches, making CBT in Italy complex and articulate. In the last few decades, CBT in Italy increased thanks to the implementation of research and the major clinical attention given to this approach. Unfortunately, development of research is still limited, and more efforts are necessary to increase funds to support scientific inquiry as the number of people who struggle with a psychological or psychiatric disease is increasing in Italy. As the clinical needs grow, so does the need for an evidence-based approach for mental health in Italy. Related is the importance of having a sufficient number of clinicians who are competent to deliver CBT. As such, the training of students to become a CBT psychotherapist, in order to guarantee highest standards, is important and will be discussed. In this chapter, we discuss the history of CBT in Italy, from the origins to the present, with particular attention for different influences from different theories, Further, the national regulations to become a psychotherapist and how psychotherapy is provided in Italy will be discussed. The current status of CBT organizations and research on CBT in Italy will be reviewed. Finally, we examine CBT with specific populations in Italy.