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Preventing relapse/recurrence in recurrent depression with cognitive therapy: a randomized controlled trial.
Claudi L H Bockting1, Aart H Schene, Philip Spinhoven
1Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. c.l.bockting@amc.uva.nl
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|September 22, 2005
Summary
Cognitive group therapy (CT) significantly reduces major depression relapse in high-risk patients. This benefit is most pronounced for individuals with a history of five or more depressive episodes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Recurrent depression poses a significant challenge, with high relapse rates.
- Maintaining remission in patients with recurrent depression requires effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of cognitive group therapy (CT) in preventing relapse/recurrence of major depression.
- To assess if CT augmentation to treatment as usual offers additional benefits for high-risk patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 187 patients diagnosed with recurrent depression in remission.
- Patients were randomized to either treatment as usual or treatment as usual plus brief CT.
- Relapse/recurrence was monitored over a 2-year period.
Main Results:
- Augmenting treatment as usual with CT significantly reduced major depression relapse/recurrence.
- The protective effect of CT was intensified in patients with a higher number of previous depressive episodes.
- For patients with 5+ prior episodes, CT reduced relapse from 72% to 46%.
Conclusions:
- Brief cognitive group therapy is an effective intervention for preventing relapse in recurrent depression.
- CT augmentation is particularly beneficial for patients with a history of multiple depressive episodes.
- These findings support the use of cognitive interventions to maintain remission in recurrent depression.