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Are individual and group treatments equally effective in the treatment of depression in adults? A meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background and Objectives: It is well-established that psychological interventions are effective in the treatment of depression.However, it is not yet clear what the optima format is in which psychological treatments should be delivered.Although several studies have examined whether individual and group treatments are equally effective in the treatment of depression, no comprehensive meta-analysis has examined this. Methods:We searched major bibliographical databased and conducted a meta-analysis of 15 studies in which individual and group therapies were compared directly to each other. Results:The mean effect size indicating the difference between individual and group therapies in depressive symptomatology at post-test was 0.20 (95% CI: [0.05 0.35]; p < 0.01), in favor of individual therapies, with a lower drop-out rate in individual interventions (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: [0.37, 0.86]; p < 0.01).At follow-up no significant differences were found.Conclusions: Although individual therapy seems to be somewhat more effective than group therapy at the short term, it is not clear whether this is relevant from a clinical point of view.Because of the small number of studies and the limited quality, more research is needed to examine whether the difference between individual and group treatment is clinically relevant.
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“a lower drop-out rate in individual CBT compared to group-based CBT”
From Effects of group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults: A meta-analysis. (2022) · cites this paper as Cuijpers et al., 2008
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“In general, it can be deduced from the results of previous meta-analyses that both individual and group therapies are effective for depressive disorders (Cuijpers et al., 2008) and anxiety disorders (Barkowski et al., 2020).”
From A clinical effectiveness trial comparing ACT and CBT for inpatients with depressive and mixed mental disorders (2021) · cites this paper as Cuijpers et al., 2008
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“although their evidence base is yet to be fully established (Cuijpers et al. , 2008; Cramer et al. , 2011).”
From Do depressed and anxious men do groups? What works and what are the barriers to help seeking? (2014) · cites this paper as Cuijpers et al. , 2008
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“individual CBT may be more effective than group-based CBT in the treatment of depressive disorders and depressive symptoms in the short term.”
From Effects of group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults: A meta-analysis. (2022) · cites this paper as Cuijpers et al., 2008
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Metadata
- Authors
- Cuijpers, P., van Straten, A., & Warmerdam, L.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Venue
- The European Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SciELO Espana/Repisalud
- Published
- 2008-03
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 0213-6163 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2153193886
- Cited by
- 137
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- The European Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- Hispana (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Scientific Electronic library online (Sciences Carlos III Health Institute) (submittedVersion)
- 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, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, depressive symptoms, treatment discontinuation, adults
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