Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Does early intervention increase latency to relapse in major depressive disorder? Re-evaluation with cognitive
J M Quiring1, S M Monroe, A D Simons
1Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA. jquiring@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Journal of Affective Disorders
|July 16, 2002
Summary
Delayed treatment entry for major depressive disorder (MDD) predicted longer relapse times. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be most effective for patients who delay seeking treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by remission and relapse patterns.
- Early intervention is presumed beneficial, but empirical evidence is inconclusive.
- No prior studies investigated the impact of Time to Treatment Entry on MDD's long-term course.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between Time to Treatment Entry and the long-term clinical course of MDD.
- To investigate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in relation to treatment delay.
Main Methods:
- 53 participants received 16 weeks of CBT.
- Remitted participants (n=41) entered a longitudinal follow-up protocol.
Main Results:
- Longer Time to Treatment Entry was associated with a longer time to relapse.
- A higher number of prior depressive episodes correlated with a shorter Time to Treatment Entry.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) might be particularly effective for individuals who have experienced treatment delays.
- Findings challenge the 'kindling theory' assumptions regarding the benefits of early intervention in affective disorders.
- Further research with elaborate protocols is needed to explore treatment effects and Time to Treatment Entry concurrently.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...