Cited by 231Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesDigital Mental Health Interventions

Four decades of outcome research on psychotherapies for adult depression: an overview of a series of meta-analyses.

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Cuijpers, Pim·2017·Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne

Abstract

In the past 4 decades about 500 randomized trials have examined the effects of psychological treatments of adult depression. In this article the results of a series of meta-analyses of these trials are summarised. Several types of psychotherapy have been examined, including cognitive behaviour therapy, behavioural activation therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, problem-solving therapy, nondirective supportive therapy, and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. All therapies are effective and there are no significant differences between treatments. Psychotherapies are about equally effective as pharmacotherapy, and combined treatments are more effective than either of these alone. Therapies are also effective in specific target groups, such as older adults, college students, patients with general medical disorders, but may be somewhat less effective in chronic depression, and in patients with comorbid substance use disorders. Treatments are effective when delivered in individual, group, and guided self-help format. The effects of psychotherapies have been overestimated because of the low quality of many trials and due to publication bias. Future research should not be aimed at the development of new psychotherapies for depression, on specific treatment formats or on therapies in specific populations, because the evidence indicates that all types and formats with human involvement are effective in all specific target groups. Future research should instead focus on a further reduction of the disease burden of depression. Specifically, it should focus on the possibilities of preventing the onset of depressive disorders, treatments of chronic and treatment-resistant depression, relapse prevention, and scaling up treatments, for example by using more guided self-help interventions.

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Authors
Cuijpers, P.
Affiliations
Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
Corresponding author
Cuijpers, Pim
Venue
Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne
Published
2017-02
Volume
58
Issue
1
Pages
7-19
ISSN
  • 0708-5591 (ISSN-L)
  • 1878-7304
OpenAlex
W2585493186
Cited by
231
References
94
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 11
FWCI
27.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • VU Research Portal (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
adult depression, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, interpersonal psychotherapy, problem-solving therapy, supportive therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, combination therapy, treatment-resistant depression, chronic depression, substance use disorders, older adults, university students, group therapy, guided self-help, publication bias, trial quality, depression prevention, relapse prevention

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