Jeremy Karmel, CEO of FeelingGreatapp.com
Do Negative Thoughts REALLY Cause Depression?
Or is it the other way around?
Finally, the Answer–After 2,000 Years!
Also featuring
Diane Spangler, PhD
Rhonda Barovsky, PsyD LCSW
David Burns, MD
This episode of the Feeling Good podcast, the first of 2025, focuses on groundbreaking research evaluating the Feeling Great app, which implements principles of TEAM-CBT to alleviate negative emotions such as depression and anxiety. David, Jeremy Karmel, Diane Spangler and Rhonda discuss their data-driven study using rigorous structural equation modeling to address three questions about the Feeling Great app:
- How effective is the Feeling Great app? Research confirms it triggers incredibly fast and dramatic reductions in seven negative feelings: depression, anxiety, guilt, inadequacy, loneliness, hopelessness and anger. Although it is only a wellness device, and not therapy, the speed and size of these effects are impressive, even when compared to months of treatment with human therapists or antidepressant medications.
2. How does it work? What is the mechanism of action? People have argued intensely about the chicken vs the egg problem in the relationship between emotion and cognition for more than 2,000 years. Do negative thoughts REALLY cause negative feelings? Or do negative feelings cause negative thoughts? Or both? Or neither? FINALLY, we’ve got the answer!
3. What are the implications of these findings? The researchers describe clear evidence that changing the degree of belief in negative thoughts can rapidly and powerfully improve emotional wellbeing. These findings call into question competing (and largely discredited) biological theories like the theory that depression results from a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Finally, we discuss some data-driven answers to these questions that are quite exciting! The discussants explore the exciting implications of these findings for the future of digital self-help, psychotherapy, and the behavioral sciences.
The episode also touches on the creation of a non-profit foundation for furthering this research and David’s legacy.
Warmly,
Rhonda, Jeremy, Diane, and David
Contact Information
Diane Spangler, PhD can be contacted at dspangler@cognitivefxusa.com
Jeremy Karmel can be contacted at Jeremy@FeelingGreat.com
Dr. Rhonda Barovsky is a Level 5 Certified TEAM-CBT therapist and trainer and specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, and depression. You can reach her at: rhonda@feelinggreattherapycenter.com.
You can reach Dr. Burns at david@feelinggood.com
