[Behavioural and cognitive therapies in depression]

A large number of psychotherapies were proposed to depressed patients. The behavioural and cognitive therapies (TCC) showed their efficacy. This short term therapy improves quickly the symptoms and prevents around 30% of relapse. The TCC works on the depressed symptoms (engaging the patients in a large number of pleasant activities), on hopelessness cognitions and on the own psychological vulnerability (named cognitive schemata). The activation of depressed schemata is correlated with relapse). The indication of TCC in depressed patient is discussed after two or three sessions performed by a cognitive and behaviour therapist. This professional has preliminary learnt the theory and practice during a specific training.