title: Randomised controlled trial of interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) are established as effective treatments for major depression. Controversy remains regarding their effectiveness for severe and melancholic depression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy and CBT in people receiving out-patient treatment for depression and to explore response in severe depression (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score above 30), and in melancholic depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised clinical trial of 177 patients with a principal Axis I diagnosis of major depressive disorder receiving 16 weeks of therapy comprising 8-19 sessions. Primary outcome was improvement in MADRS score from baseline to end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the two psychotherapies in the sample as a whole, but CBT was more effective than interpersonal psychotherapy in severe depression, and the response was comparable with that for mild and moder-ate depression. Melancholia did not predict poor response to either psychotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both therapies are equally effective for depression but CBT may be preferred in severe depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. sue.luty@chmeds.ac.nz
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Luty
authors.forename: Janet D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Janice M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Alma M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.forename: Christopher M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Frampton
authors.forename: Roger T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Joyce
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome