A naturalistic trial of brief psychodynamic therapy for recurrent major depression

We examined disposition, course, and outcome for 100 outpatients offered short-term individual dynamic therapy as a primary treatment for recurrent major depression. Evaluations using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) were conducted regularly during the year after referral. Patients failing to show a response (50% decrease in pre-treatment HAM-D scores) were referred for consultation regarding "augmentation" of therapy with antidepressant medication. Nineteen referrals failed to meet inclusion-exclusion criteria, reflecting therapist overestimation of the severity of patients' depressive symptoms; referring therapists also missed other salient clinical issues. Fourteen patients completed assessments but did not start therapy; "decliners" were more likely to report previous admissions and thus may have opted for hospitalization. Sixty-seven patients started therapy; 18 dropped out (26.9%). Of the 49 therapy completers, 23 (46.9%) did not receive augmented treatment; 20 (40.8%) demonstrated evidence of recovery during the year while 3 (6.1%) did not. Of the 26 patients (53.1%) prescribed antidepressants, 16 (32.7%) demonstrated evidence of recovery and 10 (20.4%) did not. Patient clusters also showed distinct trajectories of change on the HAM-D over the year after referral. Patients who received augmented treatment but showed no evidence of recovery scored significantly higher on indices of alexithymia. Clinical implications of the findings are considered.