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A meta-analysis of randomized trials of behavioural treatment of depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2007

D. Ekers ,
D. Richards  and
S. Gilbody
D. Ekers*
Affiliation:
Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Trust/University of York Department of Health Sciences, The Health Centre, Newcastle Road, Chester le Street, Co. Durham, UK
D. Richards
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, Seebohm Rowntree Building, University of York, York, UK
S. Gilbody
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, Seebohm Rowntree Building, University of York, York, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: D. Ekers, Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Trust/Department of Health Sciences, The Health Centre, Newcastle Road, Chester le Street, Co. Durham DH3 3UR, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Depression is a common, disabling condition for which psychological treatments, in particular cognitive behavioural therapies are recommended. Promising results in recent randomized trials have renewed interest in behavioural therapy. This systematic review sought to identify all randomized trials of behavioural therapy for depression, determine the effect of such interventions and examine any moderators of such effect.

Method

Randomized trials of behavioural treatments of depression versus controls or other psychotherapies were identified using electronic database searches, previous reviews and reference lists. Data on symptom-level, recovery/dropout rate and study-level moderators (study quality, number of sessions, severity and level of training) were extracted and analysed using meta-analysis and meta-regression respectively.

Results

Seventeen randomized controlled trials including 1109 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. A random-effects meta-analysis of symptom-level post-treatment showed behavioural therapies were superior to controls [standardized mean difference (SMD) −0.70, 95% CI −1.00 to −0.39, k=12, n=459], brief psychotherapy (SMD −0.56, 95% CI −1.0 to −0.12, k=3, n=166), supportive therapy (SMD −0.75, 95% CI −1.37 to −0.14, k=2, n=45) and equal to cognitive behavioural therapy (SMD 0.08, 95% CI −0.14 to 0.30, k=12, n=476).

Conclusions

The results in this study indicate behavioural therapy is an effective treatment for depression with outcomes equal to that of the current recommended psychological intervention. Future research needs to address issues of parsimony of such interventions.

Keywords

Behavioural therapycognitive behavioural therapydepressionmeta-analysispsychotherapy
Type
Invited Review
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 38 , Issue 5 , May 2008 , pp. 611 - 623
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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