Cognitive therapy for bipolar depression: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
While the efficacy of cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) for the treatment of acute unipolar major depression is well-documented, there is almost no data evaluating its utility in the treatment of bipolar depression. This pilot study compares the efficacy of CBT combined with mood-stabilizer pharmacotherapy for bipolar depression and CBT alone for unipolar depression.


METHODS
A matched-case control design was used to evaluate outcomes following 20 sessions of CBT in 11 depressed bipolar patients and 11 matched recurrent unipolar depressed control subjects.


RESULTS
Bipolar depressed patients achieved similar levels of reduction in depressive symptoms following CBT, as did the unipolar depressed group. However, on measures of more pervasive dysfunctional attitudes, bipolar patients did not improve to the same degree.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary findings suggest that CBT warrants further investigation as an effective psychosocial intervention for depression in bipolar patients already receiving ongoing mood-stabilizing pharmacotherapy.
Zaretsky
A E
AE
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario. azaretsky@msh.on.ca
Segal
Z V
ZV
Gemar
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index