OBJECTIVE: To propose the Trial-Based Thought Record, a modified, 7-column thought record addressing core beliefs by sentence reversion and the analogy to a trial. METHOD: Clients (n = 30) participated in a simulation of a trial and exhibited shifts in their adherence to core beliefs and in the intensity of corresponding emotions after each step (investigation, prosecutor’ s plea, defense attorney’ s plea, prosecutor’ s second plea, defense attorney’ s second plea, and jury verdict) during a session. RESULTS: Significant mean reductions existed between percent values after investigation (taken as baseline) and defense attorney’ s plea (p < 0.001), and after the jury’ s verdict, either in beliefs (p < 0.001) or in intensity of emotions (p < 0.001). Significant differences also emerged between the defense attorney’ s first and second pleas (p = 0.009) and between the defense attorney’ s second plea and jury’ s verdict concerning core beliefs (p = 0.005) and emotions (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Trial-Based Thought Record may at least temporarily help patients constructively reduce attachment to negative core beliefs and corresponding emotions.
Cognitive therapy; Core belief; Schema; Kafka; Trial-based thought record
