Psychological treatment of depression: A systematic overview of a 'Meta-Analytic Research Domain'
Open accessAbstract
Background Over the past 16 years, we have developed a 'Meta-analytic Research Domain' (MARD) of all randomized trials of psychological treatments of depression. A MARD is a living systematic review of a research field, that cannot be otherwise covered by one (network) meta-analysis and includes multiple PICOs. In this paper we give an overview of the findings of this MARD. Methods A narrative review of the results of the 118 meta-analyses on psychotherapies for depression that were published within our MARD. Results Most research has been conducted on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), but several other psychotherapies are also effective, with few differences between therapies. They can be effectively delivered in individual, group, telephone and guided self-help format and are effective in many different target groups and across different age groups, although the effects are significantly smaller in children and adolescents. Psychotherapies have comparable effects as pharmacotherapy at the short term but are probably more effective at the longer term. Combined treatment is more effective than either psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy alone at the short, but also at the longer term. Limitations We did not summarize all published meta-analyses (protocols, methodological studies) and have not compared our results to those found in other meta-analyses on comparable subjects. Conclusion Psychotherapies can contribute considerably to a reduction of the disease burden of depression…
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Several prior systematic reviews investigated the effects of psychotherapies across different age groups but did not focus exclusively on depression in older people.
“Several prior systematic reviews investigated the effects of psychotherapies across different age groups (Cuijpers 2020; Cuijpers 2023), but did not focus exclusively on depression in older people.”
From Psychotherapeutic treatments for depression in older adults (2024) · cites this paper as Cuijpers 2023
Cites
Jacobson, N. S., & Truax, P. (1991) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.59.1.12 · Cited by 7,770 · see citing works
How to perform a meta-analysis with R: a practical tutorial
Balduzzi, S., Rücker, G., & Schwarzer, G. (2019) · Evidence Based Mental Health · doi:10.1136/ebmental-2019-300117 · Cited by 5,827 · see citing works
Outlier and influence diagnostics for meta-analysis
Viechtbauer, W., & Cheung, M. W.-L. (2010) · Research Synthesis Methods · doi:10.1002/jrsm.11 · Cited by 2,949 · see citing works
The World Mental Health Report: Transforming mental health for all
Freeman, M. (2022) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.21018 · Cited by 1,472 · see citing works
Behavioral activation treatments of depression: a meta-analysis.
Cuijpers, P., van Straten, A., & Warmerdam, L. (2007) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2006.11.001 · Cited by 1,144 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Berking, M., Andersson, G., Quigley, L., Kleiboer, A., & Dobson, K. S. (2013) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/070674371305800702 · Cited by 1,066 · see citing works
Self-citationKaryotaki, E., Efthimiou, O., Miguel, C., Maas genannt Bermpohl, F., Furukawa, T. A., Cuijpers, P., Individual Patient Data Meta-Analyses for Depression (IPDMA-DE) Collaboration, Riper, H., Patel, V., Mira, A., et al. (2021) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4364 · Cited by 866 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Vogelzangs, N., Twisk, J., Kleiboer, A., Li, J., & Penninx, B. W. (2014) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13030325 · Cited by 677 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Weitz, E., Andersson, G., Hollon, S. D., & van Straten, A. (2014) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.02.026 · Cited by 586 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Cristea, I. A., Karyotaki, E., Reijnders, M., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2016) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20346 · Cited by 572 · see citing works
Self-citationBarth, J., Munder, T., Gerger, H., Nüesch, E., Trelle, S., Znoj, H., Jüni, P., & Cuijpers, P. (2013) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001454 · Cited by 569 · see citing works
Self-citationEkers, D., Webster, L., Van Straten, A., Cuijpers, P., Richards, D., & Gilbody, S. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100100 · Cited by 565 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S. L., Andersson, G., Beekman, A. T., & Reynolds, C. F. (2013) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20038 · Cited by 540 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Noma, H., Karyotaki, E., Cipriani, A., & Furukawa, T. A. (2019) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0268 · Cited by 539 · see citing works
Self-citationInterpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression: A Meta-Analysis
Cuijpers, P., Geraedts, A. S., van Oppen, P., Andersson, G., Markowitz, J. C., & van Straten, A. (2011) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10101411 · Cited by 511 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S. L., Andersson, G., Beekman, A. T., & Reynolds, C. F. (2014) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20089 · Cited by 424 · see citing works
Self-citationThe efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis update
Driessen, E., Hegelmaier, L. M., Abbass, A. A., Barber, J. P., Dekker, J. J. M., Van, H. L., Jansma, E. P., & Cuijpers, P. (2015) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.07.004 · Cited by 409 · see citing works
Self-citationvan Ballegooijen, W., Cuijpers, P., van Straten, A., Karyotaki, E., Andersson, G., Smit, J. H., & Riper, H. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100674 · Cited by 409 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Quero, S., Noma, H., Ciharova, M., Miguel, C., Karyotaki, E., Cipriani, A., Cristea, I. A., & Furukawa, T. A. (2021) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20860 · Cited by 388 · see citing works
Self-citationThe efficacy of non-directive supportive therapy for adult depression: A meta-analysis
Cuijpers, P., Driessen, E., Hollon, S. D., van Oppen, P., Barth, J., & Andersson, G. (2012) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.01.003 · Cited by 369 · see citing works
Self-citationImputing response rates from means and standard deviations in meta-analyses
Furukawa, T. A., Cipriani, A., Barbui, C., Brambilla, P., & Watanabe, N. (2005) · International Clinical Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1097/00004850-200501000-00010 · Cited by 337 · see citing works
Cuijpers, P., Muñoz, R. F., Clarke, G. N., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (2009) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.04.005 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
Self-citationPsychological treatment of depression: Results of a series of meta-analyses
Cuijpers, P., Andersson, G., Donker, T., & van Straten, A. (2011) · Nordic Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/08039488.2011.596570 · Cited by 335 · see citing works
Self-citationPsychotherapy for chronic major depression and dysthymia: A meta-analysis
Cuijpers, P., van Straten, A., Schuurmans, J., van Oppen, P., Hollon, S. D., & Andersson, G. (2010) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.09.003 · Cited by 320 · see citing works
Self-citationKaryotaki, E., Ebert, D. D., Donkin, L., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Burger, S., Rozental, A., Lange, A., Williams, A. D., Zarski, A. C., et al. (2018) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2018.06.007 · Cited by 303 · see citing works
Self-citationInterpersonal Psychotherapy for Mental Health Problems: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis
Cuijpers, P., Donker, T., Weissman, M. M., Ravitz, P., & Cristea, I. A. (2016) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effects of fifteen evidence-supported therapies for adult depression: A meta-analytic review
Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., de Wit, L., & Ebert, D. D. (2020) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2019.1649732 · Cited by 276 · see citing works
Self-citationHow much psychotherapy is needed to treat depression? A metaregression analysis
Cuijpers, P., Huibers, M., Daniel Ebert, D., Koole, S. L., & Andersson, G. (2013) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.02.030 · Cited by 258 · see citing works
Self-citationFurukawa, T. A., Suganuma, A., Ostinelli, E. G., Andersson, G., Beevers, C. G., Shumake, J., Berger, T., Boele, F. W., Buntrock, C., Carlbring, P., et al. (2021) · The Lancet Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00077-8 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Self-citationSelf-guided psychological treatment for depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis
Cuijpers, P., Donker, T., Johansson, R., Mohr, D. C., van Straten, A., & Andersson, G. (2011) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021274 · Cited by 250 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Turner, E. H., Koole, S. L., van Dijke, A., & Smit, F. (2014) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22249 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P. (2017) · Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne · doi:10.1037/cap0000096 · Cited by 231 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Weitz, E., Karyotaki, E., Garber, J., & Andersson, G. (2015) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-014-0660-6 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Self-citationPsychotherapy for subclinical depression: meta-analysis
Cuijpers, P., Koole, S. L., van Dijke, A., Roca, M., Li, J., & Reynolds, C. F. (2014) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.113.138784 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Self-citationKaryotaki, E., Smit, Y., Holdt Henningsen, K., Huibers, M. J. H., Robays, J., de Beurs, D., & Cuijpers, P. (2016) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.036 · Cited by 189 · see citing works
Self-citationWeitz, E. S., Hollon, S. D., Twisk, J., van Straten, A., Huibers, M. J. H., David, D., DeRubeis, R. J., Dimidjian, S., Dunlop, B. W., Cristea, I. A., et al. (2015) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.1516 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., de Beurs, D. P., van Spijker, B. A. J., Berking, M., Andersson, G., & Kerkhof, A. J. F. M. (2013) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2012.06.025 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Self-citationKaryotaki, E., Kemmeren, L., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Hoogendoorn, A., Kleiboer, A., Mira, A., Mackinnon, A., Meyer, B., Botella, C., et al. (2018) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291718000648 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Self-citationPsychotherapies for depression in low- and middle-income countries: a meta-analysis
Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Reijnders, M., Purgato, M., & Barbui, C. (2018) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20493 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Weitz, E., Twisk, J., Kuehner, C., Cristea, I., David, D., DeRubeis, R. J., Dimidjian, S., Dunlop, B. W., Faramarzi, M., et al. (2014) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22328 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Self-citationEbert, D. D., Donkin, L., Andersson, G., Andrews, G., Berger, T., Carlbring, P., Rozenthal, A., Choi, I., Laferton, J. A. C., Johansson, R., et al. (2016) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291716001562 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Self-citationEffect of psychotherapy for depression on quality of life: meta-analysis
Kolovos, S., Kleiboer, A., & Cuijpers, P. (2016) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.175059 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Cristea, I. A., Karyotaki, E., Reijnders, M., & Hollon, S. D. (2019) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2017.1395922 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Cristea, I. A., Ebert, D. D., Koot, H. M., Auerbach, R. P., Bruffaerts, R., & Kessler, R. C. (2016) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22461 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Boschloo, L., Bekhuis, E., Weitz, E. S., Reijnders, M., DeRubeis, R. J., Dimidjian, S., Dunner, D. L., Dunlop, B. W., Hegerl, U., Hollon, S. D., et al. (2019) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20630 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Self-citationCristea, I. A., Huibers, M. J. H., David, D., Hollon, S. D., Andersson, G., & Cuijpers, P. (2015) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.08.003 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
Self-citationProblem-solving therapy for adult depression: An updated meta-analysis
Cuijpers, P., de Wit, L., Kleiboer, A., Karyotaki, E., & Ebert, D. D. (2018) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.11.006 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Self-citationFurukawa, T. A., Shinohara, K., Sahker, E., Karyotaki, E., Miguel, C., Ciharova, M., Bockting, C. L. H., Breedvelt, J. J. F., Tajika, A., Imai, H., et al. (2021) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20906 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Self-citationCiharova, M., Furukawa, T. A., Efthimiou, O., Karyotaki, E., Miguel, C., Noma, H., Cipriani, A., Riper, H., & Cuijpers, P. (2021) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/ccp0000654 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Who benefits from psychotherapies for adult depression? A meta-analytic update of the evidence
Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Reijnders, M., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2018) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2017.1420098 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Self-citationFurukawa, T. A., Efthimiou, O., Weitz, E. S., Cipriani, A., Keller, M. B., Kocsis, J. H., Klein, D. N., Michalak, J., Salanti, G., Cuijpers, P., et al. (2018) · Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · doi:10.1159/000489227 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Self-citationNegative effects of psychotherapies for adult depression: A meta-analysis of deterioration rates
Cuijpers, P., Reijnders, M., Karyotaki, E., de Wit, L., & Ebert, D. D. (2018) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.05.050 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Self-citationBoumparis, N., Karyotaki, E., Kleiboer, A., Hofmann, S. G., & Cuijpers, P. (2016) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.05.019 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Self-citationPsychological treatment of perinatal depression: a meta-analysis
Cuijpers, P., Franco, P., Ciharova, M., Miguel, C., Segre, L., Quero, S., & Karyotaki, E. (2023) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291721004529 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Pineda, B. S., Ng, M. Y., Weisz, J. R., Muñoz, R. F., Gentili, C., Quero, S., & Karyotaki, E. (2021) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2020.11.024 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Self-citationDivergent outcomes in cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for adult depression
Vittengl, J. R., Jarrett, R. B., Weitz, E., Hollon, S. D., Twisk, J., Cristea, I., David, D., DeRubeis, R. J., Dimidjian, S., Dunlop, B. W., et al. (2016) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15040492 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effect of psychotherapy for depression on improvements in social functioning: a meta-analysis
Renner, F., Cuijpers, P., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2014) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291713003152 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Self-citationPsychotherapies for adult depression: recent developments
Cuijpers, P. (2015) · Current Opinion in Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/yco.0000000000000121 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effects of psychotherapy for adult depression on social support: a meta-analysis
Park, M., Cuijpers, P., van Straten, A., & Reynolds, C. F. (2014) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-014-9630-z · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Self-citationCuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Andersson, G., Li, J., Mergl, R., & Hegerl, U. (2015) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.06.005 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Self-citationCristea, I. A., Karyotaki, E., Hollon, S. D., Cuijpers, P., & Gentili, C. (2019) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.022 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Management of Depression in Adults: A Review
Simon, G. E., Moise, N., & Mohr, D. C. (2024) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5756 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Cuijpers, P., Miguel, C., Harrer, M., Ciharova, M., & Karyotaki, E. (2024) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.019 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citationDrüge, M., Guthardt, L., Haller, E., Michalak, J., & Apolinário-Hagen, J. (2024) · Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-4402-2_11 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Apolinário-Hagen, J., Drüge, M., Guthardt, L., & Haller, E. (2024) · Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-4402-2_12 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Psychotherapeutic treatments for depression in older adults
Ang, L., Lee, M. S., Song, E., Lee, H. W., Cao, L., Zhang, J., Wang, Q., Jung, J., Jang, S., Gastaldon, C., et al. (2024) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd015976
Self-citation
- Authors
- Cuijpers, P., Miguel, C., Harrer, M., Plessen, C. Y., Ciharova, M., Papola, D., Ebert, D., & Karyotaki, E.
- Affiliations
- Babeș-Bolyai University (RO)
- Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- University of Verona (IT)
- Technical University of Munich (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Cuijpers, Pim
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-08
- Volume
- 335
- Pages
- 141-151
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4376598088
- Cited by
- 136
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 54 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 7
- FWCI
- 6.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- 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 › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- depression, psychotherapy, psychological intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy, treatment effectiveness, drug therapy comparison, combined psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, children and adolescents, telephone-delivered therapy, guided self-help, group therapy, individual psychotherapy, long-term treatment outcomes
- MeSH terms
- Network Meta-Analysis, Adolescent, Child, Combined Modality Therapy, Depression, Humans, Psychotherapy, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
