Cited by 267Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesTreatment of Major Depression

A review of empirically supported psychological therapies for mood disorders in adults

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Hollon, Steven D., Ponniah, Kathryn·2010·Depression and Anxiety

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The mood disorders are prevalent and problematic. We review randomized controlled psychotherapy trials to find those that are empirically supported with respect to acute symptom reduction and the prevention of subsequent relapse and recurrence. METHODS: We searched the PsycINFO and PubMed databases and the reference sections of chapters and journal articles to identify appropriate articles. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five studies were found evaluating treatment efficacy for the various mood disorders. With respect to the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and behavior therapy (BT) are efficacious and specific and brief dynamic therapy (BDT) and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) are possibly efficacious. CBT is efficacious and specific, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) efficacious, and BDT and EFT possibly efficacious in the prevention of relapse/recurrence following treatment termination and IPT and CBT are each possibly efficacious in the prevention of relapse/recurrence if continued or maintained. IPT is possibly efficacious in the treatment of dysthymic disorder. With respect to bipolar disorder (BD), CBT and family-focused therapy (FFT) are efficacious and interpersonal social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) possibly efficacious as adjuncts to medication in the treatment of depression. Psychoeducation (PE) is efficacious in the prevention of mania/hypomania (and possibly depression) and FFT is efficacious and IPSRT and CBT possibly efficacious in preventing bipolar episodes. CONCLUSIONS: The newer psychological interventions are as efficacious as and more enduring than medications in the treatment of MDD and may enhance the efficacy of medications in the treatment of BD.

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  • Therapist experience may be less important for delivering ERP than for delivering more complex cognitive interventions.

    “Therapist experience may be less important for the delivery of ERP than it is for the more complex cognitive interventions (see Hollon & Ponniah, 2010 with respect to major depressive disorder).”

    From An update on the efficacy of psychological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults (2013) · cites this paper as Hollon & Ponniah, 2010

    In Results > Major Depressive Disorder, the review says less experienced therapists may have struggled to deliver the complicated CT treatment, while behavioral activation (BA) encountered no such difficulties and appeared easier to learn. This supports the comparison between simpler behavioral and cognitive interventions in MDD, but the passage concerns BA, not ERP; it does not establish the claim about ERP delivery. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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2 of the 215 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. [51]Bass J Neugebauer R Clougherty KF Group interpersonal psychotherapy for depression in rural Uganda: 6-month outcomes. Br J Psychiatry 2006 188 567 573 16738348
  2. [102]Paykel ES Scott J Teasdale JD Prevention of relapse in residual depression by cognitive therapy. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999 56 829 835 12884889
  3. [147]Hopko DR Lejuez CW Le Page JP A brief behavioural activation treatment for depression. Behav Modif 2003 27 458 469 12971122
  4. [166]Dunner DL Schmaling KB Hendrickson H Cognitive therapy versus fluoxetine in the treatment of dysthymic disorder. Dep 1996 4 34 41 9160652
  5. [186]Scott J Paykel E Morriss R Cognitive-behavioural therapy for severe and recurrent bipolar disorders. Br J Psychiatry 2006 188 313 320 16582056

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Authors
Hollon, S. D., & Ponniah, K.
Affiliations
  • Vanderbilt University (US)
  • National University of Singapore (SG)
Corresponding author
Hollon, Steven D.
Venue
Depression and Anxiety
Published
2010-09-09
Volume
27
Issue
10
Pages
891-932
ISSN
1091-4269 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2099029901
Cited by
267
References
215
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 27
FWCI
3.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Depression and Anxiety (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K02MH001697, MH 01697)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
mood disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, family-focused therapy, psychoeducation, relapse prevention, dysthymia, treatment efficacy
MeSH terms
Adult, Humans, Psychotherapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Mood Disorders, Empirical Research

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