title: Schema therapy for chronic depression: Results of a multiple single case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to test the effects of individual schema therapy (ST) for patients with chronic depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a multiple-baseline single case series design, patients with chronic major depressive disorder (N = 25) first entered a 6-24 weeks baseline phase; this phase functioned as a no-treatment control condition. Then, patients started a 12 week exploration phase during which symptoms and underlying schemas were explored; this phase functioned as an attention control condition. Next, patients received up to 65 sessions of individual ST. The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) were the primary outcome measures. The BDI-II was assessed once a week during all phases of the study resulting in 100 repeated assessments per participant on average. Mixed regression analysis was used to contrast change in symptoms during the intervention with change in symptoms during the baseline and exploration control phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to the no-treatment control period, the intervention had a significant, large effect on depressive symptoms (Cohen's d BDI-II = 1.30; Cohen's d QIDS = 1.22). Effects on secondary continuous outcomes were moderate to large.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The small sample size and lack of a control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide evidence that ST might be an effective treatment for patients with chronic depression.
authors.affiliation: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Fritz.Renner@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arnoud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arntz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frenk P M L
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lobbestael
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcus J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huibers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Chronic depression; Psychological treatment; Schema therapy; Single case series