Psychotherapies for Adult Depression: Recent Developments
Medscape Psychiatry News
Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2015;28(1):24-29.
Abstract
Purpose of review Much has been learned from the 400 randomized trials on psychotherapies for adult depression that have been conducted, but much is also still unknown. In this study some recent attempts to further reduce the disease burden of depression through psychotherapies are reviewed.
Recent findings In the past, many new psychotherapies have promised to be more effective than existing treatments, usually without success. We describe recent research on two new therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive bias modification, and conclude that both have also not shown to be more effective than existing therapies. A growing number of studies have also focused on therapies that may be successful in further reducing the disease burden, such as treatments for chronic depression and relapse prevention. Other studies are aimed at scaling up psychological services, such as the training of lay health counselors in low-income and middle-income countries, telephone-based, and internet-based therapies.
Summary Psychotherapies are essential tools in the treatment of adult depression. Randomized trials have shown that these treatments are effective, and by focusing on key issues, such as chronic depression, relapse, and scaling them up, psychotherapies contribute more and more to the reduction of the disease burden of depression.
Introduction
In the past four decades, 400 randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of psychotherapies for adult depression.1 Psychotherapies, and especially cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and behavioral activation therapy (BAT), have become major treatment options for depressive disorders, and are included in most guidelines as first-line treatments.2,3 What have we learned from these 400 trials? And what are the most important recent trends and developments in this field of effectiveness research? In this study, I will focus on these two questions.
Due to the length of this article (10 pages) a PDF
copy is attached for download / viewing / printing.
Medscape Psychiatry News
Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2015;28(1):24-29.
Abstract
Purpose of review Much has been learned from the 400 randomized trials on psychotherapies for adult depression that have been conducted, but much is also still unknown. In this study some recent attempts to further reduce the disease burden of depression through psychotherapies are reviewed.
Recent findings In the past, many new psychotherapies have promised to be more effective than existing treatments, usually without success. We describe recent research on two new therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive bias modification, and conclude that both have also not shown to be more effective than existing therapies. A growing number of studies have also focused on therapies that may be successful in further reducing the disease burden, such as treatments for chronic depression and relapse prevention. Other studies are aimed at scaling up psychological services, such as the training of lay health counselors in low-income and middle-income countries, telephone-based, and internet-based therapies.
Summary Psychotherapies are essential tools in the treatment of adult depression. Randomized trials have shown that these treatments are effective, and by focusing on key issues, such as chronic depression, relapse, and scaling them up, psychotherapies contribute more and more to the reduction of the disease burden of depression.
Introduction
In the past four decades, 400 randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of psychotherapies for adult depression.1 Psychotherapies, and especially cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and behavioral activation therapy (BAT), have become major treatment options for depressive disorders, and are included in most guidelines as first-line treatments.2,3 What have we learned from these 400 trials? And what are the most important recent trends and developments in this field of effectiveness research? In this study, I will focus on these two questions.
Due to the length of this article (10 pages) a PDF
copy is attached for download / viewing / printing.
