title: Clinical effectiveness of cognitive therapy v. interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: results of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although both cognitive therapy (CT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) have been shown to be effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), it is not clear yet whether one therapy outperforms the other with regard to severity and course of the disorder. This study examined the clinical effectiveness of CT v. IPT in a large sample of depressed patients seeking treatment in a Dutch outpatient mental health clinic. We tested whether one of the treatments was superior to the other at post-treatment and at 5 months follow-up. Furthermore, we tested whether active treatment was superior to no treatment. We also assessed whether initial depression severity moderated the effect of time and condition and tested for therapist differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depressed adults (n = 182) were randomized to either CT (n = 76), IPT (n = 75) or a 2-month waiting list control (WLC) condition (n = 31). Main outcome was depression severity, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II), assessed at baseline, 2, 3, and 7 months (treatment phase) and monthly up to 5 months follow-up (8-12 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differential effects between CT and IPT were found. Both treatments exceeded response in the WLC condition, and led to considerable improvement in depression severity that was sustained up to 1 year. Baseline depression severity did not moderate the effect of time and condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within our power and time ranges, CT and IPT appeared not to differ in the treatment of depression in the acute phase and beyond.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychological Science,Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
authors: L H J M
authors: LH
authors: Lemmens
authors: Department of Clinical Psychological Science,Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Arntz
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology,Maastricht University Medical Centre,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Peeters
authors: Department of Psychology,Vanderbilt University,Nashville,TN,USA.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Hollon
authors: Department of Clinical Psychological Science,Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Roefs
authors: Department of Clinical Psychological Science,Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
authors: M J H
authors: MJ
authors: Huibers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive therapy; depressive disorders; individual psychotherapy; interpersonal psychotherapy; outcome studies; randomized controlled trial