Authors:

Scott, J., TEASDALE, J.D., Paykel, E.S., Johnson, A.L., Abbott, R., Hayhurst, H., Moore, R.G. & Garland, A.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2000

CBU number:

4068

Abstract:

158 patients with residual symptoms of major depressive disorder that had failed to respond to antidepressant medication were randomly allocated to continue with antidepressant medication and clinical management, either alone, or together with cognitive therapy. The addition of cognitive therapy produced modest but statistically significant improvements in measures of social and psychological functioning. Results suggest that the reduction in relapse rates by cognitive therapy observed in this trial were more likely the result of patients learning how to prevent the escalation of depressive symptoms to major depression, rather than of a general reduction of overall symptom levels of depression.