Effects of cognitive therapy on psychological symptoms and social functioning in residual depression.
BACKGROUND
About 30% of psychiatric out-patients with major depression demonstrate partial remission.


OBJECTIVE
To explore whether the addition of cognitive therapy (CT) had any differential effect on residual symptoms or social adjustment.


METHODS
Patients with residual symptoms of major depression (n=158) were randomised to receive clinical management (CM) alone, or CM plus 18 sessions of CT. Subjects' depressive symptoms and social functioning were assessed regularly over 16 months.


RESULTS
The addition of CT produced statistically significant differential effects on: two out of four measures of overall severity of depression; specific psychological symptoms (guilt, self-esteem and hopelessness); and social functioning (including dependency, interpersonal behaviour and friction).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients showing only partial response to antidepressants, the addition of CT produced modest improvements in social and psychological functioning. The implications for research on the mechanisms of action of CT are discussed.
Scott
J
J
Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow. jan.scott@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Teasdale
J D
JD
Paykel
E S
ES
Johnson
A L
AL
Abbott
R
R
Hayhurst
H
H
Moore
R
R
Garland
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome