Speed of action: the relative efficacy of short psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in the first 8 weeks of a treatment algorithm for depression.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy and speed of action of short-term psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy (SPSP) in comparison to pharmacotherapy (PhT) in the acute treatment of depression.


METHODS
This study reported on the first 8 weeks of a treatment algorithm for depression. 70 patients with a depressive episode according to DSM-IV were randomized to PhT, 71 patients were randomized to SPSP. The acceptability of the psychotherapy was greater than pharmacotherapy.


RESULTS
At the end of the first 8 weeks of treatment, attrition rates were similar in both conditions. PhT-patients were better off at 4 weeks according to two of the four measures The superiority of PhT was clearer on the self-report than on the independent measure.


CONCLUSIONS
There are signs that the benefits of PhT over SPSP--where detected--are short-lived and cover mostly the first month of treatment. The progression of these patients through the rest of their treatments, and afterwards, will be reported in further contributions.
Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jack.dekker@mentrum.nl
J J M
JJ
Dekker
J A
JA
Koelen
H L
HL
Van
R A
RA
Schoevers
J
J
Peen
M
M
Hendriksen
S
S
Kool
G
G
Van Aalst
F
F
De Jonghe
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents