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Cited by 136Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Treatment and Access

Psychological interventions for major depression in primary care: a meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials

Bortolotti, Biancamaria, Menchetti, Marco, Bellini, Francesca, Montaguti, Milena Barbara, Berardi, Domenico·2008·General Hospital Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.04.001
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Abstract

Objective Various studies have tested psychological therapies in the treatment of depression in primary care. Yet, concerns over their clinical effectiveness, as compared to usual general practitioner (GP) care or treatment with antidepressants, have been raised. The present meta-analysis was aimed at assessing currently available evidence on the topic.Method A systematic search of electronic databases identified 10 randomized controlled trials comparing psychological forms of intervention with either usual GP care or antidepressant medication for major depression. Meta-analytical procedures were used to examine the impact of psychological intervention in primary care on depression, as compared to usual GP care and antidepressant treatment.Results The main analyses showed greater effectiveness of psychological intervention over usual GP care in both the short term [standardized mean difference (SMD)=-0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-0.59 to -0.26, n=408] and long term (SMD=-0.30, 95% CI=-0.45 to -0.14, n=433). The heterogeneity test was not significant in the short term at the P<.05 level (df=5, P=.57, I(2)=0%), but it was significant in the long term (df=5, P=.004, I(2)=70.9%). The comparison between psychological forms of intervention and antidepressant medication yielded no effectiveness differences, for either the short term or the long term.Conclusions Psychological forms of intervention are significantly linked to clinical improvement in depressive symptomatology and may be useful for supplementing usual GP care.

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Authors
Bortolotti, B., Menchetti, M., Bellini, F., Montaguti, M. B., & Berardi, D.
Affiliations
University of Bologna (IT)
Corresponding author
Bortolotti, Biancamaria
ORCID
Venue
General Hospital Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-07
Volume
30
Issue
4
Pages
293-302
ISSN
0163-8343 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.04.001
OpenAlex
W2033761188
Cited by
136
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 10
FWCI
15.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • General Hospital Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
major depressive disorder, psychological intervention, primary care, antidepressants, treatment effectiveness, depressive symptoms
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Amitriptyline, Antidepressive Agents, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic, Counseling, Major Depressive Disorder, Family Practice, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Primary Health Care, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy, Brief, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Fluvoxamine, Treatment Outcome, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

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