ERIC Number: EJ963101
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Feb
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-006X
EISSN: N/A
Sudden Gains during Psychological Treatments of Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analysis
Aderka, Idan M.; Nickerson, Angela; Boe, Hans Jakob; Hofmann, Stefan G.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v80 n1 p93-101 Feb 2012
Objective: The present study quantitatively reviewed the literature on sudden gains in psychological treatments for anxiety and depression. The authors examined the short- and long-term effects of sudden gains on treatment outcome as well as moderators of these effects. Method: The authors conducted a literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and manual searches. The meta-analysis was based on 16 studies and included 1,104 participants receiving psychological treatment for major depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder. Results: Effect size estimates suggest that sudden gains had a moderate effect on primary outcome measures at posttreatment (Hedges's g = 0.62) and follow-up (Hedges's g = 0.56). These effect sizes were robust and unrelated to publication year or number of treatment sessions. The effect size of sudden gains in cognitive-behavioral therapy was higher (Hedges's g = 0.75) than in other treatments (Hedges's g = 0.23). Conclusions: These results suggest that sudden gains are associated with short-term and long-term improvements in depression and anxiety, especially in cognitive-behavioral therapy. (Contains 1 footnote, 3 tables, and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Anxiety Disorders, Psychology, Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, Outcomes of Treatment, Meta Analysis, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Cognitive Restructuring, Behavior Modification, Therapy, Databases, Literature, Effect Size, Pretests Posttests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A