Cited by 108Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsTreatment of Major Depression

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 68 of the 70 references it cites were found in a registry or an index, and 2 are not checked yet; none of the 40 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Predictors of depression relapse and recurrence after cognitive behavioural therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Wojnarowski, Caroline, Firth, Nick, Finegan, Megan, Delgadillo, Jaime·2019·Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy

Abstract

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective psychological treatment for major depressive disorder, although some patients experience a return of symptoms after finishing therapy. The ability to predict which individuals are more vulnerable to deterioration would allow for targeted interventions to prevent short-term relapse and longer-term recurrence. Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify factors associated with an increased risk of relapse and/or recurrence (RR) after CBT for depression. Method: We reviewed 13 relevant papers, of which a small set of unique samples were eligible for meta-analysis (k= 5,N= 369). Twenty-six predictor variables were identified and grouped into seven categories: residual depressive symptoms; prior episodes of depression; cognitive reactivity; stressful life events; personality factors; clinical and diagnostic factors; demographics. Results: Meta-analyses indicated that residual depressive symptoms (r= 0.34 [0.10, 0.54],p= .01) and prior episodes (r= 0.19 [0.07, 0.30],p= .002) were statistically significant predictors of RR, but cognitive reactivity was not (r= 0.18 [−0.02, 0.36],p= .08). Other variables lacked replicated findings. On average, 33.4% of patients experienced RR after CBT. Conclusions: Patients with the above risk factors could be offered evidence-based continuation-phase interventions to enhance the longer-term effectiveness of CBT.

Checked 2026-10-10 · 2 references not checked yet

Overview

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TL;DR

This systematic review and meta-analysis found that residual depressive symptoms and prior episodes of depression significantly predicted relapse and/or recurrence (RR) after acute-phase CBT, whereas cognitive reactivity did not. On average, 33.4% of patients experienced RR after CBT.

Key findings

  • In random-effects meta-analyses, residual depressive symptoms were a moderate predictor of RR (r = 0.34 [0.10, 0.54], p = .01) and prior episodes were a small predictor (r = 0.19 [0.07, 0.30], p = .002); cognitive reactivity was not statistically significant (r = 0.18 [−0.02, 0.36], p = .08).
  • Reported RR rates ranged from 18.5% to 46.5% after acute-phase CBT, with an average of 33.4% events within a maximum follow-up of 36 months; CBT-alone studies had a mean RR rate of 29.1%, and studies grouping treatments had a mean of 28.6%.
  • Other predictors were mostly single-study findings: childhood maltreatment (OR = 2.89), dependent chronic stressors (OR = 1.34), severe independent life event post-treatment (OR = 1.03), intake anxiety (OR = 1.08), subclinical psychotic experiences (OR = 3.85), and subthreshold bipolar symptoms (OR = 1.16).
  • Heterogeneity was high for residual depressive symptoms (I² = 85.3%) but not for prior episodes (I² = 0.0%); fail-safe N values were 72 for residual symptoms, 9 for prior episodes, and 7 for cognitive reactivity.

Methods

  • Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis; protocol registered in PROSPERO. Searches of Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus (January 1990–March 2017) returned 275 unique titles/abstracts; 59 full texts were assessed, and 13 articles were included (9 RCTs, 4 longitudinal cohort studies; total pooled sample N = 1219).
  • Eligible studies included adults with unipolar major depressive disorder who completed acute-phase CBT without continuation-phase interventions, were published in peer-reviewed English-language journals, had follow-up of at least 6 months, and investigated predictors of RR.
  • Meta-analysis was restricted to predictors examined in two or more studies with sufficient statistics; inferential statistics were converted to correlation coefficients (r), with heterogeneity assessed using Q and I², publication bias examined via funnel plot asymmetry tests, and fail-safe N calculated. The meta-analysis included k = 5, N = 369.

Limitations

  • The paper states that at least half of the reviewed studies used arbitrary or unconventional operational definitions of relapse, making it impossible to clearly disentangle predictors of relapse versus recurrence.
  • The paper states that most primary studies were underpowered: the largest number of RR events was 40 and the mean was 19, whereas detecting a medium effect would require 212 participants (64 RR cases) and a small effect 1310 participants (393 RR cases); over half of studies only reported significant results, suggesting possible selective reporting.
  • The paper states that exclusions of grey literature, non-English publications, children and young people, and continuation-phase studies limit the review, and the small number of included studies precluded subgroup and moderator analyses; evident from the text, the meta-analyses rested on only five studies and high heterogeneity was present for residual depressive symptoms.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1017/s1352465819000080

Cites

68 of 70 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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33 Not checked yet · 23 Own result · 22 Own method · 8 Own interpretation · 3 No basis given

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  • The quote only partly states this claim. 4
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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No prior systematic review and quantitative synthesis of predictors of relapse/recurrence after CBT for depression exists.

    “This study presents the first systematic review and quantitative synthesis of the literature on predictors of RR (relapse and/or recurrence) after CBT for depression.”
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Citations

Cites

Show all 69 references

Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Eysenck, 1968, Eysenck Personality Inventory Manual
  2. 2009, Systematic Reviews: CRD’s Guidance for Undertaking Reviews in Healthcare
  3. 2000, Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder (revision), American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 1
  4. Möller, 2011, Relapse or recurrence in depression: why has the cutoff been set at 6 months, Medicographia, 33, 125
  5. Spitzer, 1985, Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for a Selected Group of Functional Disorders
  6. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2010). Depression: The Treatment and Management of Depression in Adults (updated edition). London, UK: The British Psychological Society and The Royal College of Psychiatrists.
  7. 2000, DSM-IV-TR: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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Metadata

Authors
Wojnarowski, C., Firth, N., Finegan, M., & Delgadillo, J.
Affiliations
University of Sheffield (GB)
Corresponding author
Wojnarowski, Caroline
Venue
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
Published
2019-03-21
Volume
47
Issue
5
Pages
514-529
ISSN
  • 1352-4658 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-1833
OpenAlex
W2906420156
Cited by
108
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4
FWCI
1.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
cognitive behavioral therapy, major depressive disorder, depression relapse, depression recurrence, predictors of relapse, residual depressive symptoms, cognitive reactivity, life events, personality factors
MeSH terms
Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Prognosis, Recurrence, Risk Factors, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome

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