Applying the Science of Habit Formation to Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments for Mental Illness

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21786121
AutoresAllison G Harvey (0000-0002-8609-0005, University of California, Berkeley, autor de correspondencia), Catherine A Callaway (0000-0002-3065-6321, University of California, Berkeley), Garret G Zieve (0000-0003-0062-3323, University of California, Berkeley), Nicole B Gumport (0000-0002-1502-1985, University of California, Berkeley), Courtney C Armstrong (0000-0003-1980-1847, University of California, Berkeley)
Año2022
Volumen17
Número2
Páginas572-589
Fecha de publicación2022-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPerspectives on Psychological Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1745-6916 • E-ISSN: 1745-6924
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1745691621995752
PMID34495781
OpenAlexW3196742029
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas115

Habits affect nearly every aspect of our physical and mental health. Although the science of habit formation has long been of interest to psychological scientists across disciplines, we propose that applications to clinical psychological science have been insufficiently explored. In particular, evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPTs) are interventions targeting psychological processes that cause and/or maintain mental illness and that have been developed and evaluated scientifically. An implicit goal of EBPTs is to disrupt unwanted habits and develop desired habits. However, there has been insufficient attention given to habit-formation principles, theories, and measures in the development and delivery of EBTPs. Herein we consider whether outcomes following an EBPT would greatly improve if the basic science of habit formation were more fully leveraged. We distill six ingredients that are central to habit formation and demonstrate how these ingredients are relevant to EBPTs. We highlight practice points and an agenda for future research. We propose that there is an urgent need for research to guide the application of the science of habit formation and disruption to the complex “real-life” habits that are the essence of EBPTs

Automaticity · Basic science · Behavioural sciences · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Habit · Mental health · Mental illness · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychological research · Psychological science · Psychotherapist · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology · Social Psychology