title: Is there a role for continuation phase cognitive therapy for depressed outpatients?
abstract: Two pilot studies evaluated the rate of relapse or recurrence (i.e., major depressive disorder) after cognitive therapy (CT). Two sequential cohorts included outpatients who responded to acute phase CT (A-CT) and who agreed to monthly, treatment-free follow-up. In Study 1, the Kaplan-Meier technique estimated relapse and recurrence rates of 40% at 6 months, 45% at 8 months, 50% at 12 months, 67% at 18 months, and 74% at 24 months. In Study 2, responders to A-CT received 8 months (10 sessions) of continuation phase CT (C-CT). In Study 2, relapse or recurrence was 20% at 6 and 8 months, 27% at 12 months, and 36% at 18 and 24 months after A-CT. An exploratory log-rank test showed that relapse or recurrence-free survival was greater in Study 2 than in Study 1. If replicated, this result suggests that C-CT can reduce depressive relapse or recurrence. Alternative explanations are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235-9149, USA. rjarr1@mednet.swmed.edu
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Basco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Risser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramanan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marwill
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention