Understanding and Enhancing the Effects of Homework in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Homework has been viewed as a key ingredient of cognitive therapy since its inception, and most of the research has examined the relationships between homework completion and therapy outcome. In an authoritative meta-analytic review of the literature, Kazantzis, Whittington, and Dattilio (2010) report that the use of homework assignments improves treatment outcome and address a number of conceptual issues in research on homework effects. In this commentary, I echo and amplify some of the important points raised by highlighting directions for future research, including the need to (a) test the efficacy of homework in diverse patient populations; (b) develop evidence-based assessment of homework compliance; (c) examine mechanisms by which homework improves outcome; and (d) look for ways to enhance homework compliance (e.g., motivational interviewing).