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One of the most worrying things about CBT isn't whether it is effective in the short term, difficult as it is for that to be shown (therapy is very tricky to do double blind studies in, not that CBT advocates care about such rigour - not aiming arrows at @bluebikerider, just decrying the general flock). In fact, if it doesn't work at all, that's a triviality. If it does work, even in the short term, is it an appropriate technique? CBT entirely, explicitly ignores the cause of a problem and treats only the symptom. It does nothing to address the source of a condition; it only suppresses the public expression of it. Well, so would a lobotomy. I do hope we have progressed beyond thinking lobotomies a good thing.
itsbruce-
Well, my two cents, I think (no hard proof in the scientific study area) you are correct CBT doesn't address long standing issues.
However, if the issue is mostly what they call "coping skills" (how to cope with stress, emotions etc.) I'd say it can help you reduce stress by giving people the tools to help cope. There's not always "A" cause, sometimes you pick up bad habits.
But, if it's a very deep standing issue on how you see yourself/past trauma, it's just plastering over the cracks.
So how does a health professional know...you'd need some test for it, instead of "go have CBT, if it doesn't work, eh, pills/whatever".
JWestland
@itsbruce, I wish this weren't true.
In a similar way, it recently seems that anyone with any kind of psychological, emotional, stress, and/or anxiety issues (as well as some physical complaints, for that matter) is being offered mindfulness, or strongly encouraged to use it at home, usually in parallel with other treatments where needed.
There have always been buzzwords and trends in psychology though - psychoanalysis and behaviorism being obvious examples.