title: Psychotherapy effectiveness for major depression: a randomized trial in a Finnish community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to assess the relative effectiveness of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Psychoeducative Group Therapy (PeGT), and treatment as usual (TAU) for patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in municipal psychiatric secondary care in one Finnish region.
  
  
  METHODS
  All adult patients (N = 1515) with MDD symptoms referred to secondary care in 2004-2006 were screened. Eligible, consenting patients were assigned randomly to 10-week IPT (N = 46), PeGT (N = 42), or TAU (N = 46) treatment arms. Antidepressant pharmacotherapy among study participants was evaluated. The Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D) was the primary outcome measure. Assessment occurred at 1, 5, 3, 6, and 12 months. Actual amount of therapists' labor was also evaluated. All statistical analyses were performed with R software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three treatment cells showed marked improvement at 12-month follow-up. At 3 months, 42 % in IPT, 61 % in PeGT, and 42 % in TAU showed a mean ≥50 % in HAM-D improvement; after 12 months, these values were 61 %, 76 %, and 68 %. Concomitant medication and limited sample size minimized between-treatment differences. Statistically significant differences emerged only between PeGT and TAU favoring PeGT. Secondary outcome measures (CGI-s and SOFAS) showed parallel results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All three treatments notably benefited highly comorbid MDD patients in a public sector secondary care unit.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02314767 (09.12.2014).
authors.affiliation: Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Psychiatric Unit, Lohja subdistrict, Finland. hannu.saloheimo@hus.fi.
authors.forename: Hannu P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Saloheimo
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, Markowitz, New York, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.affiliation: Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Psychiatric Unit, Lohja subdistrict, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuija H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Saloheimo
authors.affiliation: Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Psychiatric Unit, Lohja subdistrict, Finland.
authors.forename: Jarmo J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.affiliation: Numos OY, Espoo, Finland.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Helsinki University, Huttunen, Finland.
authors.forename: Matti O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Huttunen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ilmarinen Mutual Insurance Company, Helsinki University, Aro, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: A Aro
authors.affiliation: Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki University Hospital, Tuija Saloheimo, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuitu N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Mikkonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Helsinki University, Huttunen, Finland.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O Katila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Depression; Effectiveness; Interpersonal Psychotherapy; Psychoeducative Group Therapy; Randomized controlled trial