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Psychotherapy alone and combined with pharmacotherapy in the treatment of depression

Department of Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam, and Depression Research Group, Mentrum Institute for Mental Health, Amsterdam

Mariëlle Hendricksen, MA, Gerda van Aalst, MD, Simone Kool, MD, Vjaap Peen, MA, Rien Van, MD and Ellen van den Eijnden, MA

Depression Research Group, Mentrum Institute for Mental Health, Amsterdam

Jack Dekker, PhD

Department of Clinical Psychology, Free University of Amsterdam, and Depression Research Group, Mentrum Institute for Mental Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Dr J. Dekker, Mentrum GGZ Amsterdam, dep. Onderzoek en Ontwikkeling, PO Box 75848, 1070 AV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 6352833; fax: +31 20 6352840; e-mail: jack.dekker{at}mentrum.nl

Declaration of interest Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Wyeth Nederland.

Background The relative efficacy of psychotherapy and combined therapy in the treatment of depression is still a matter of debate.

Aims To investigate whether combined therapy has advantages over psychotherapy alone.

Method A 6-month randomised clinical trial compared Short Psychodynamic Supportive Psychotherapy (n=106) with combined therapy (n=85) in ambulatory patients with mild or moderate major depressive disorder diagnosed using DSM–IV criteria. Antidepressants were prescribed according to a protocol providing four successive steps in case of intolerance or inefficacy: venlafaxine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, nortriptyline and nortriptyline plus lithium. Efficacy was assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Clinical Global Impression of Severity and of Improvement, and the depression sub-scale of the Symptom Checklist.

Results The advantages of combining antidepressants with psychotherapy were equivocal. Neither the treating clinicians nor the independent observers were able to ascertain them, but the patients experienced them clearly.

Conclusions The advantages of combining antidepressants with psychotherapy are equivocal.

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