Hostname: page-component-6898cfcb55-cbk24 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-11T04:09:31.128Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Problem solving therapies for depression: A meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Pim Cuijpers,
Annemieke van Straten and
Lisanne Warmerdam
Pim Cuijpers*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BTAmsterdam, The Netherlands
Annemieke van Straten
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BTAmsterdam, The Netherlands
Lisanne Warmerdam
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BTAmsterdam, The Netherlands
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +31 20 598 8757; fax: +31 20 598 8758. E-mail address: p.cuijpers@psy.vu.nl (P. Cuijpers).
Get access

Abstract

Purpose

In the past decades, the effects of problem-solving therapy (PST) for depression have been examined in several randomized controlled studies. However, until now no meta-analysis has tried to integrate the results of these studies.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search and identified 13 randomized studies examining the effects of PST, with a total of 1133 subjects. The quality of studies varied.

Results

The mean standardized effect size was 0.34 in the fixed effects model and 0.83 in the random effects model, with very high heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses indicated significantly lower effects for individual interventions in studies with subjects who met criteria for major depression, studies in which intention-to-treat analyses were conducted instead of completers-only analyses, and studies with pill placebo and care-as-usual control groups. Heterogeneity was high, and the subgroup analyses did not result in clear indications of what caused this high heterogeneity. This indicates that PST has varying effects on depression, and that it is not known to date what determines whether PST has larger of smaller effects.

Conclusion

Although there is no doubt that PST can be an effective treatment for depression, more research is needed to ascertain the conditions and subjects in which these positive effects are realized.

Keywords

Problem-solving therapyDepressionMeta-analysis

Information

Type
Therapy of Depression
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , January 2007, pp. 9 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Alexopoulos, G.S., Raue, P., Arean, P.Problem-solving therapy versus supportive therapy in geriatric major depression with executive dysfunction. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2003;11:46–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arean, P.A., Perri, M.G., Nezu, A.M., Schein, R.L., Christopher, F., Joseph, T.X.Comparative effectiveness of social problem-solving therapy and reminiscence therapy as treatments for depression in older adults. J Consult Clin Psychol 1993;61:1003–1010.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barrett, J.E., Williams, J.W., Oxman, T.E., Frank, E., Katon, W., Sullivan, M.et al.Treatment of dysthymia and minor depression in primary care: a randomized trial in patients age 18–59 comparing placebo, paroxetine, and problem solving treatment. J Fam Pract 2001;50:405–412.Google Scholar
Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., Erbaugh, J.An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1961;4:561–571.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowman, D., Scogin, F., Lyrene, B.The efficacy of self-examination therapy and cognitive bibliotherapy in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Psychother Res 1995;5:131–140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowman, V., Ward, L.C., Bowman, D., Scogin, F.Self-examination therapy as an adjunct treatment for depressive symptoms in substance abusing patients. Addict Behav 1996;21:129–133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chambless, D.L., Ollendick, T.H.Empirically supported psychological interventions: controversies and evidence. Annu Rev Psychol 2001;52:685–716.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cuijpers, P., Dekker, J.Psychologische behandeling van depressie: een systematisch overzicht van meta-analyses. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149:1892–1897.Google Scholar
DeRubeis, R.J., Crits-Christoph, P.Empirically supported individual and group psychological treatments for adult mental disorders. J Consult Clin Psychol 1998;66:37–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dowrick, C., Dunn, G., Ayuso-Mateos, J.L., Dalgard, O.S., Page, H., Lehtinen, V.et al.Problem solving treatment and group psychoeducation for depression: multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2000;321:1450–1454.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
D'Zurilla, T.J., Nezu, A.Social problem solving in adults. In: Kendall, P.C. editors. Advances in cognitive-behavioral research and therapy, vol. 1. New York: Academic Press; 1982. p. 202–274.Google Scholar
Hamilton, M.A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 1960;23:56–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Higgins, J.P., Thompson, S.G., Deeks, J.J., Altman, D.G.Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ 2003;327:557–560.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Higgins, J.P.T., Green, S.Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions 4.2.5. [updated May 2005]. In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2005. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Chichester, UK.Google Scholar
Lipsey, M.W., Wilson, D.B.The efficacy of psychological, educational and behavioral treatment. Am Psychol 1993;48:1181–1209.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lynch, D., Tamburrino, M., Nagel, R., Smith, M.K.Telephone-based treatment for family practice patients with mild depression. Psychol Rep 2004;94:785–792.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lynch, D.J., Tamburrino, M.B., Nagel, R.Telephone counseling for patients with minor depression: preliminary findings in a family practice setting. J Fam Pract 1997;44:293–298.Google Scholar
Mynors-Wallis, L., Gath, D.Predictors of treatment outcome for major depression in primary care. Psychol Med 1997;27:731–736.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mynors-Wallis, L.M., Gath, D.H., Day, A., Baker, F.Randomised controlled trial of problem solving treatment, antidepressant medication, and combined treatment for major depression in primary care. BMJ 2000;320:26–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mynors-Wallis, L.M., Gath, D.H., Lloyd-Thomas, A.R., Tomlinson, D.Randomised controlled trial comparing problem solving treatment with amitriptyline and placebo for major depression in primary care. BMJ 1995;310:441–445.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nezu, A.Efficacy of social problem-solving therapy approach for unipolar depression. J Consult Clin Psychol 1986;54:196–202.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nezu, A.M., Nezu, C.M., Perri, M.G.Problem-solving therapy for depression: theory, research, and clinical guidelines. New York: Wiley; 1989.Google Scholar
Nezu, A.M., Perri, M.G.Social problem-solving therapy for unipolar depression: an initial dismantling investigation. J Consult Clin Psychol 1989;57:408–413.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NICE, National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Depression: Management of depression in primary and secondary care. National Clinical Practice Guideline Number 23, National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, UK; 2004.Google Scholar
Reinecke, M.A., Davison, M.R.Comparative treatments of depression. New York: Springer; 2002.Google Scholar
Williams, J.W., Barrett, J., Oxman, T., Frank, E., Katon, W., Sullivan, M.et al.Treatment of dysthymia and minor depression in primary care: a randomized controlled trial in older adults. JAMA 2000;284:1519–1526.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.