May 10, 2005 -Cognitive psychotherapy would be a very effective way to relieve symptoms of depression, according to a recent American study. What is more, in the long term, it would provide better results than those obtained with conventional antidepressant drugs, because it would better prevent relapses.
The study in question is the largest to date on the subject1.2. Two hundred and forty people with moderate to major depression attended. Taking antidepressants has been compared to psychotherapy sessions. It took place in two phases: the treatment phase, lasting 4 months, and the follow-up phase, lasting 12 months.
After the four months of treatment, taking an antidepressant (paroxetine) and cognitive therapy both relieved symptoms of depression with a success rate of 58%. The rates of complete remission were also similar in the two groups, at around 40%.
Twelve months after stopping treatment, the relapse rate was 76% in people who received antidepressants, compared to 31% in those who received cognitive therapy. A relapse meant the reappearance of symptoms of depression for at least two weeks.
Cognitive therapy, a relatively new form of talk-based psychotherapy, teaches people to transform their negative, often unrealistic, thoughts into a more positive outlook. Robert DeRubeis, the study director and professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, says it gives people tools to deal with their problems on their own, which drugs don’t.
These results indicate that people with moderate to major depression now have two proven treatment options: medication and cognitive psychotherapy. However, some people respond better to medication than to conversation, believes DeRubeis. “In cognitive therapy, the expertise of the therapist, the motivation and openness of the patient take on great importance,” he says. According to him, the best treatment strategy is to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Marie-Michèle Mantha – PasseportSanté.net
According to Medical Study News and The Economist.
1. DeRubeis RJ, Hollon SD, Amsterdam JD, Shelton RC, Young PR, Salomon RM, O’Reardon JP, Lovett ML, Gladis MM, Brown LL, Gallop R. Cognitive therapy vs medications in the treatment of moderate to severe depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Apr; 62 (4): 409-16.
2. Hollon SD, DeRubeis RJ, Shelton RC, Amsterdam JD, Salomon RM, O’Reardon JP, Lovett ML, Young PR, Haman KL, Freeman BB, Gallop R. Prevention of relapse following cognitive therapy vs medications in moderate to severe depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Apr; 62 (4): 417-22.
