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.
Dekker
J J M
JJ
Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jack.dekker@mentrum.nl
Koelen
J A
JA
Van
H L
HL
Schoevers
R A
RA
Peen
J
J
Hendriksen
M
M
Kool
S
S
Van Aalst
G
G
De Jonghe
F
F
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