Background and Objective: Depression and anxiety disorders (DAD) are the most prevalent mental disorders. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective tool for treating different mental health conditions such as DAD. Patients’ involvement level in clinical decision-making (CDM) can affect and be affected by the different CBT modalities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on clinical decision-making.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the psychotherapeutic ward at the Clinical Division of Social-Psychiatry, Clinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna. As 100 patient diagnosed with anxiety and/or depressive disorders was included in the study. Multiple regression analysis was used for collecting predictors too.

Results: Participation in integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) had a positive effect of “empowerment”, in such a manner that allows patients to the feeling of influence in their life. An active and common style of participation was significantly more frequent at discharge than at admission. Female patients are more active in participating in shared clinical decision-making, compared to male patients.

Conclusion: Providing DADs patients with patient self-efficacy training (PST), patient self-management (PSM) and knowledge increases their ability to be active participants in the clinical decision-making (CDM) process at admission when possible and at discharge.