The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients

Sanne J E Bruijniks; Lotte H.J.M. Lemmens; Steven D Hollon; Frenk P.M.L. Peeters; Pim Cuijpers; Arnoud Arntz; Pieter Dingemanse; Linda Willems; Patricia van Oppen; Jos W R Twisk; Michael van den Boogaard; Jan Spijker; Judith Bosmans; Marcus J.H. Huibers

doi:10.1192/bjp.2019.265

The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients

Sanne J E Bruijniks^*, Lotte H.J.M. Lemmens, Steven D Hollon, Frenk P.M.L. Peeters, Pim Cuijpers, Arnoud Arntz, Pieter Dingemanse, Linda Willems, Patricia van Oppen, Jos W R Twisk, Michael van den Boogaard, Jan Spijker, Judith Bosmans, Marcus J.H. Huibers

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is unclear what session frequency is most effective in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression.

AIMS: Compare the effects of once weekly and twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression.

METHOD: We conducted a multicentre randomised trial from November 2014 through December 2017. We recruited 200 adults with depression across nine specialised mental health centres in the Netherlands. This study used a 2 × 2 factorial design, randomising patients to once or twice weekly sessions of CBT or IPT over 16-24 weeks, up to a maximum of 20 sessions. Main outcome measures were depression severity, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II at baseline, before session 1, and 2 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after start of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: Compared with patients who received weekly sessions, patients who received twice weekly sessions showed a statistically significant decrease in depressive symptoms (estimated mean difference between weekly and twice weekly sessions at month 6: 3.85 points, difference in effect size d = 0.55), lower attrition rates (n = 16 compared with n = 32) and an increased rate of response (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.00-2.18).

CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice settings, delivery of twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression is a way to improve depression treatment outcomes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	222-230
Number of pages	9
Journal	British Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	216
Issue number	4
Early online date	7 Feb 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.265
Publication status	Published - Apr 2020

Keywords

COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
DISORDER
Depressive disorders
INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
INVENTORY
PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL
STANDARD
cognitive-behavioural therapies
individual psychotherapy
out-patient treatment
randomised controlled trial

Cite this

Bruijniks, S. J. E., Lemmens, L. H. J. M., Hollon, S. D., Peeters, F. P. M. L., Cuijpers, P., Arntz, A., Dingemanse, P., Willems, L., van Oppen, P., Twisk, J. W. R., van den Boogaard, M., Spijker, J., Bosmans, J., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2020). The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients. British Journal of Psychiatry, 216(4), 222-230. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.265

Bruijniks, Sanne J E ; Lemmens, Lotte H.J.M. ; Hollon, Steven D ; Peeters, Frenk P.M.L. ; Cuijpers, Pim ; Arntz, Arnoud ; Dingemanse, Pieter ; Willems, Linda ; van Oppen, Patricia ; Twisk, Jos W R ; van den Boogaard, Michael ; Spijker, Jan ; Bosmans, Judith ; Huibers, Marcus J.H. / The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients. In: British Journal of Psychiatry. 2020 ; Vol. 216, No. 4. pp. 222-230.

@article{b90b46439642496e8a3c79a4f0d6fa74,

title = "The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: It is unclear what session frequency is most effective in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression.AIMS: Compare the effects of once weekly and twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression.METHOD: We conducted a multicentre randomised trial from November 2014 through December 2017. We recruited 200 adults with depression across nine specialised mental health centres in the Netherlands. This study used a 2 × 2 factorial design, randomising patients to once or twice weekly sessions of CBT or IPT over 16-24 weeks, up to a maximum of 20 sessions. Main outcome measures were depression severity, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II at baseline, before session 1, and 2 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after start of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted.RESULTS: Compared with patients who received weekly sessions, patients who received twice weekly sessions showed a statistically significant decrease in depressive symptoms (estimated mean difference between weekly and twice weekly sessions at month 6: 3.85 points, difference in effect size d = 0.55), lower attrition rates (n = 16 compared with n = 32) and an increased rate of response (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.00-2.18).CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice settings, delivery of twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression is a way to improve depression treatment outcomes.",

keywords = "COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, DISORDER, Depressive disorders, INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY, INVENTORY, PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES, RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL, STANDARD, cognitive-behavioural therapies, individual psychotherapy, out-patient treatment, randomised controlled trial",

author = "Bruijniks, {Sanne J E} and Lemmens, {Lotte H.J.M.} and Hollon, {Steven D} and Peeters, {Frenk P.M.L.} and Pim Cuijpers and Arnoud Arntz and Pieter Dingemanse and Linda Willems and {van Oppen}, Patricia and Twisk, {Jos W R} and {van den Boogaard}, Michael and Jan Spijker and Judith Bosmans and Huibers, {Marcus J.H.}",

year = "2020",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1192/bjp.2019.265",

language = "English",

volume = "216",

pages = "222--230",

journal = "British Journal of Psychiatry",

issn = "0007-1250",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "4",

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Bruijniks, SJE, Lemmens, LHJM, Hollon, SD, Peeters, FPML, Cuijpers, P, Arntz, A, Dingemanse, P, Willems, L, van Oppen, P, Twisk, JWR, van den Boogaard, M, Spijker, J, Bosmans, J & Huibers, MJH 2020, 'The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients', British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 216, no. 4, pp. 222-230. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.265

The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients. / Bruijniks, Sanne J E; Lemmens, Lotte H.J.M.; Hollon, Steven D; Peeters, Frenk P.M.L.; Cuijpers, Pim; Arntz, Arnoud; Dingemanse, Pieter; Willems, Linda; van Oppen, Patricia; Twisk, Jos W R; van den Boogaard, Michael; Spijker, Jan; Bosmans, Judith; Huibers, Marcus J.H.

In: British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 216, No. 4, 04.2020, p. 222-230.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The effects of once- versus twice-weekly sessions on psychotherapy outcomes in depressed patients

AU - Bruijniks, Sanne J E

AU - Lemmens, Lotte H.J.M.

AU - Hollon, Steven D

AU - Peeters, Frenk P.M.L.

AU - Cuijpers, Pim

AU - Arntz, Arnoud

AU - Dingemanse, Pieter

AU - Willems, Linda

AU - van Oppen, Patricia

AU - Twisk, Jos W R

AU - van den Boogaard, Michael

AU - Spijker, Jan

AU - Bosmans, Judith

AU - Huibers, Marcus J.H.

PY - 2020/4

Y1 - 2020/4

N2 - BACKGROUND: It is unclear what session frequency is most effective in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression.AIMS: Compare the effects of once weekly and twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression.METHOD: We conducted a multicentre randomised trial from November 2014 through December 2017. We recruited 200 adults with depression across nine specialised mental health centres in the Netherlands. This study used a 2 × 2 factorial design, randomising patients to once or twice weekly sessions of CBT or IPT over 16-24 weeks, up to a maximum of 20 sessions. Main outcome measures were depression severity, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II at baseline, before session 1, and 2 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after start of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted.RESULTS: Compared with patients who received weekly sessions, patients who received twice weekly sessions showed a statistically significant decrease in depressive symptoms (estimated mean difference between weekly and twice weekly sessions at month 6: 3.85 points, difference in effect size d = 0.55), lower attrition rates (n = 16 compared with n = 32) and an increased rate of response (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.00-2.18).CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice settings, delivery of twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression is a way to improve depression treatment outcomes.

AB - BACKGROUND: It is unclear what session frequency is most effective in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression.AIMS: Compare the effects of once weekly and twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression.METHOD: We conducted a multicentre randomised trial from November 2014 through December 2017. We recruited 200 adults with depression across nine specialised mental health centres in the Netherlands. This study used a 2 × 2 factorial design, randomising patients to once or twice weekly sessions of CBT or IPT over 16-24 weeks, up to a maximum of 20 sessions. Main outcome measures were depression severity, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II at baseline, before session 1, and 2 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after start of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted.RESULTS: Compared with patients who received weekly sessions, patients who received twice weekly sessions showed a statistically significant decrease in depressive symptoms (estimated mean difference between weekly and twice weekly sessions at month 6: 3.85 points, difference in effect size d = 0.55), lower attrition rates (n = 16 compared with n = 32) and an increased rate of response (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.00-2.18).CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice settings, delivery of twice weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression is a way to improve depression treatment outcomes.

KW - COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

KW - DISORDER

KW - Depressive disorders

KW - INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

KW - INVENTORY

KW - PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES

KW - RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL

KW - STANDARD

KW - cognitive-behavioural therapies

KW - individual psychotherapy

KW - out-patient treatment

KW - randomised controlled trial

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DO - 10.1192/bjp.2019.265

M3 - Article

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VL - 216

SP - 222

EP - 230

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

SN - 0007-1250

IS - 4

ER -

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10.1192/bjp.2019.265