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Controlled acute and follow-up trial of cognitive therapy and pharmacotherapy in out-patients with recurrent depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

I.-M. Blackburn  and
R. G. Moore
I.-M. Blackburn*
Affiliation:
Newcastle Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Centre
R. G. Moore
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital (Box 189), Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ
*
Professor I.-M. Blackburn, Newcastle Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Centre, Collingwood Clinic, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT
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Abstract

Background

We report a randomised controlled trial, in both the acute and maintenance stage of treatment, in 75 outpatients with recurrent major depression.

Method

Patients were allocated to three groups: 16 weeks of acute treatment and two years' maintenance treatment in the following way: antidepressants and maintenance antidepressants; cognitive therapy and maintenance cognitive therapy: antidepressants and maintenance cognitive therapy. Both completers' and end-point data were analysed.

Results

In the acute phase of treatment, all patients improved significantly and there was no significant difference among treatments, or in the pattern of improvement over time. In the maintenance stage of treatment, patients kept improving over time in all three groups and there was no significant difference among treatments. Cognitive therapy was consistently superior to medication.

Conclusions

The results indicate that maintenance cognitive therapy has a similar prophylactic effect to maintenance medication and is a viable option for maintenance after acute treatment with medication in recurrent depression.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 4 , October 1997 , pp. 328 - 334
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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