title: Long-term effects of psychotherapy on moderate depression: a comparative study of narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous clinical controlled trial (Lopes et al., 2014), narrative therapy (NT) showed promising results in ameliorating depressive symptoms with comparable outcomes to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) when patients completed treatment. This paper aims to assess depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems in this clinical sample at follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 Interpersonal Relations Scale, naturalistic prospective follow-up assessment was conducted at 21 and 31 months after the last treatment session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, patients kept improving in terms of depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems. The odds that a patient maintained recovery from depressive symptoms at follow-up were five times higher than the odds that a patient maintained recovery from interpersonal problems. In the same way, the odds of a patient never recovering from interpersonal problems were five times higher than the odds of never recovering from depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study did not control for the natural course of depression or treatment continuation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For depressed patients with greater interpersonal disabilities, longer treatment plans and alternative continuation treatments should be considered.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rodrigo T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: mgoncalves@psi.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Miguel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Fassnacht
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Applications, University of Minho, Portugal.
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062525:Narrative Therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cognitive-behavioral therapy; Empirically supported therapies (ESTs); Long-term effects of psychological treatment; Narrative therapy; Psychological treatment of depression; Unipolar depression