Psychotherapy Research

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Sequential Combination of Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy in Major Depressive Disorder

The sequential model emerged from the awareness that the persistence of residual symptoms and the frequent occurrence of psychiatric comorbidity were both associated with poor long-term outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD).

The study aimed to examine the association of the sequential combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy with reduced risk of relapse and recurrence in MDD. Keyword searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception of each database through November 2019. Randomized clinical trials examining the effectiveness of the sequential use of psychotherapy following response to acute-phase pharmacotherapy in the treatment of adult remitted patients with MDD were selected independently by 2 reviewers.

Seventeen randomized clinical trials met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis, with 1 study yielding 2 comparisons (2283 patients overall, with 1208 patients in a sequential treatment arm and 1075 in a control arm). The pooled risk ratio for relapse/recurrence of MDD was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.74-0.94), suggesting a relative advantage in preventing relapse/recurrence for the sequential combination of treatments compared with control conditions. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that the sequential integration of psychotherapy following response to acute-phase pharmacotherapy, alone or combined with antidepressant medication, was associated with reduced risk of relapse and recurrence in MDD. The preventive value of the sequential strategy relies on abatement of residual symptoms and/or increase in psychological well-being. The steps for implementing the sequential approach in remitted patients with recurrent MDD are provided.

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Psychotherapy is warranted to prevent relapse in depression: drugs alone are not the answer

The results of a recent meta-analytic study provide further evidence that psychotherapy, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its modifications such as well-being therapy (WBT), may play a key role in preventing relapse among depressed patients treated with antidepressant drugs. The sequential use of psychotherapy directed toward residual symptoms after response to acute-phase pharmacotherapy has been shown to yield long-term benefits, either during continuation or after discontinuation of antidepressant medication. In fact, psychotherapy may generate skills that patients can continue to use after treatment ends to manage their own affective states, reducing risks for relapse or recurrence. Read more: http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15040476

 

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