Preventing relapse/recurrence in recurrent depression with cognitive therapy: a randomized controlled trial.
This article reports on the outcome of a randomized controlled trial of cognitive group therapy (CT) to prevent relapse/recurrence in a group of high-risk patients diagnosed with recurrent depression. Recurrently depressed patients (N = 187) currently in remission following various types of treatment were randomized to treatment as usual, including continuation of pharmacotherapy, or to treatment as usual augmented with brief CT. Relapse/recurrence to major depression was assessed over 2 years. Augmenting treatment as usual with CT resulted in a significant protective effect, which intensified with the number of previous depressive episodes experienced. For patients with 5 or more previous episodes (41% of the sample), CT reduced relapse/recurrence from 72% to 46%. Our findings extend the accumulating evidence that cognitive interventions following remission can be useful in preventing relapse/recurrence in patients with recurrent depression.
Bockting
Claudi L H
CL
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. c.l.bockting@amc.uva.nl
Schene
Aart H
AH
Spinhoven
Philip
P
Koeter
Maarten W J
MW
Wouters
Luuk F
LF
Huyser
Jochanan
J
Kamphuis
Jan H
JH
D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention