Research Evaluating the Value of Augmenting Medication With Psychotherapy

Overview

This 24-week study, with a 12-month follow up period, will compare the effectiveness of antidepressant medication alone to the combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication in patients with chronic depression.

Chronic depression affects approximately 5% of adults in the United States and is associated with significant functional impairment and high health care utilization. The combination of drug treatment and psychotherapy may be most effective in treating depression. This study will determine the effects of adjunctive psychotherapy in depressed patients who have failed to respond or have responded only partially to an initial trial medication. Participants receive an initial trial of antidepressant medication for 8 to 12 weeks. Participants who continue to have depressive symptoms are randomly assigned to add Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) or supportive therapy to their medication regimens or to continue pharmacotherapy alone for an additional 12 weeks. Assessments are made at 6 and 12 months post-treatment.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (8)

Outcomes