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Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy for Depression: Empirical Findings and Methodological Issues in the Evaluation of Outcome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Peter H. Wilson
Peter H. Wilson*
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
*
Department of Psychology, University of Sydney, NSW 2006
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the treatment-outcome literature related to cognitive-behaviour therapy for depression in adults. Evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive-behaviour therapy is obtained from comparisons with waiting-list controls, non-specific controls, and other treatments, including pharmacotherapy. Short term effects are superior to those obtained with waitinglist controls, but are at least equivalent to pharmacotherapy. Longer term effects are difficult to evaluate due to methodological problems in such studies, particularly the lack of maintenance medication comparison groups. Nevertheless, the long term effects appear to be promising. Issues and data concerning the prediction and prevention of relapse are discussed. It is recommended that future research should focus on broader assessment goals and include cost-benefit analyses.

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Type
Research Article
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Behaviour Change , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 1989, pp. 85 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1989

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References

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