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 |
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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 | |
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