ERIC Number: EJ823820
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Dec
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-006X
EISSN: N/A
Psychotherapy for Depression in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Comparative Outcome Studies
Cuijpers, Pim; van Straten, Annemieke; Andersson, Gerhard; van Oppen, Patricia
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v76 n6 p909-922 Dec 2008
Although the subject has been debated and examined for more than 3 decades, it is still not clear whether all psychotherapies are equally efficacious. The authors conducted 7 meta-analyses (with a total of 53 studies) in which 7 major types of psychological treatment for mild to moderate adult depression (cognitive-behavior therapy, nondirective supportive treatment, behavioral activation treatment, psychodynamic treatment, problem-solving therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and social skills training) were directly compared with other psychological treatments. Each major type of treatment had been examined in at least 5 randomized comparative trials. There was no indication that 1 of the treatments was more or less efficacious, with the exception of interpersonal psychotherapy (which was somewhat more efficacious; d = 0.20) and nondirective supportive treatment (which was somewhat less efficacious than the other treatments; d = -0.13). The drop-out rate was significantly higher in cognitive-behavior therapy than in the other therapies, whereas it was significantly lower in problem-solving therapy. This study suggests that there are no large differences in efficacy between the major psychotherapies for mild to moderate depression. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Behavior Modification, Psychotherapy, Depression (Psychology), Meta Analysis, Adults, Counseling Techniques, Cognitive Restructuring, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Competence, Interpersonal Relationship, Skill Development, Comparative Analysis, Counseling Effectiveness, Dropout Rate, Persistence, Outcomes of Treatment
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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