Sudden gains in cognitive therapy of depression and depression relapse/recurrence
Abstract
Cognitive therapy (CT) may have significant advantages over antidepressants in preventing depression relapses. Many CT patients experience sudden gains: large symptom improvement in 1 between-session interval. Past studies have associated CT sudden gains with in-session cognitive changes but not with life events. This study examined sudden gains and depression relapse/recurrence among 60 CT clinical-trial patients. Survival analyses showed that only one third of sudden-gain-responders relapsed in 2 years, and they had 74% lower relapse risks than did non-sudden-gain-responders. Among patients with sustained responses, 73% experienced sudden gains. The authors also replicated J. R. Vittengl, L. A. Clark, and R. B. Jarrett's finding that sudden gains identified with their unique criteria did not predict relapse. The current authors' findings suggest that CT sudden gains are not measurement artifacts, and that sudden gains and their causes and consequences might be important in preventing relapses.
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Almost half of clients with depression and anxiety exhibit sudden large gains within the first two to four CBT treatment sessions.
“For example, almost half of clients with depression and anxiety exhibit sudden large gains within the first two to four CBT treatment sessions [39,40].”
Growing evidence suggests briefer interventions can effect substantial change for clients.
“Indeed, growing evidence suggests briefer interventions can effect substantial change for clients.”
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“Sudden gains have been discovered in other psychotherapies and routine clinical practices (Gaynor et al., 2003; Hardy et al., 2005; Stiles et al., 2003; Tang et al., 2002).”
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“For example, almost half of clients with depression and anxiety exhibit sudden large gains within the first two to four CBT treatment sessions [39,40].”
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- Authors
- Tang, T. Z., DeRubeis, R. J., Hollon, S. D., Amsterdam, J., & Shelton, R.
- Affiliations
- Northwestern University (US)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Vanderbilt University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
- Published
- 2007
- Volume
- 75
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 404-408
- ISSN
- 0022-006X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2117
- OpenAlex
- W1968354611
- Cited by
- 129
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 9.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH50129(R10); MH55875(R10); MH01697(K02))
- 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 › Treatment of Major Depression
- Keywords
- sudden gains, cognitive therapy, depression, depression relapse, depression recurrence, relapse prevention, treatment response, life events, cognitive change
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Time Factors, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Secondary Prevention
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