title: Schema therapy for patients with chronic depression: a single case series study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study tested the effectiveness of schema therapy (ST) for patients with chronic depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with a diagnosis of chronic depression participated. The treatment protocol consisted of 60 sessions, with the first 55 sessions offered weekly and the last five sessions on a biweekly basis. A single case series A-B-C design, with 6 months follow-up was used. Baseline (A) was a wait period of 8 weeks. Baseline was followed by introduction to ST and bonding to therapist (phase B) with individually tailored length of 12-16 sessions, after which further ST was provided (phase C) up to 60 sessions (included the sessions given as introduction). Patients were assessed with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression three times during baseline, at the end of phase B, then every 12 weeks until the end of treatment and at 6 months follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and the Young Schema Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of treatment 7 patients (approximately 60%) remitted or satisfactorily responded. The mean HRSD dropped from 21.07 during baseline to 9.40 at post-treatment and 10.75 at follow-up. The effects were large and the gains of treatment were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Only one patient dropped out for reasons not related to treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of control group, the small sample and the lack of a multiple baseline case series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study supports the use of ST as an effective treatment for chronic depression.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece; Greek Society of Schema Therapy, 10555 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: imalog@hol.gr.
authors.forename: Ioannis A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Malogiannis
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arnoud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arntz
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Areti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spyropoulou
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece; Greek Society of Schema Therapy, 10555 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsartsara
authors.affiliation: Greek Society of Schema Therapy, 10555 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aggeli
authors.affiliation: Greek Society of Schema Therapy, 10555 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridoula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karveli
authors.affiliation: Greek Society of Schema Therapy, 10555 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vlavianou
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Artemios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pehlivanidis
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece; Greek Society of Schema Therapy, 10555 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Iannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zervas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: CBT; Chronic depression; Early maladaptive schemas; Schema therapy; Single case series