ABCT at 50 Years: Reflections, Changes, and Future

- Historical events in ABCT
- The incorporation of mindfulness represents a significant recent development in CBT
- Technological developments continue to improve dissemination and treatment development
- Advances in neuroscience offer exciting potential to improve diagnosis and elucidate etiology
- Genetic and neural biomarkers will be used to match patients-personalized intervention-with the optimal treatment for them

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) celebrates its 50th year in 2016. Personal and historical anecdotes illustrating the growth of the organization, and the parallel evolution of its affiliated therapies, are presented. From the author's perspective, the integration of behavioral and cognitive therapies marked the first few decades of ABCT; the incorporation of mindfulness represents the most significant change in cognitive and behavioral interventions in the last 20 years. Recent developments in therapy's relationship with technology (including computer-based intervention, neuroimaging, and genetic analysis) are explored. Potential future impacts of these developments are discussed in regards to the dissemination of interventions and the prevention and diagnosis of disorders, the contributions of neuroscience findings and methodologies, and the personalization of treatment.