4-YEAR OUTCOME FOR COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF RESIDUAL SYMPTOMS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

Objective: The authors' goal was to determine whether cognitive behavi oral treatment of residual symptoms of depression might have a signifi cant effect on relapse rate. Method: In an earlier study, 40 patients with primary major depressive disorder who had been successfully treat ed with antidepressant drugs were randomly assigned to either cognitiv e behavioral treatment of residual symptoms or standard clinical manag ement. In both types of treatment, antidepressant drugs were gradually tapered and discontinued. In this study, a 4-year follow-Up assessmen t was performed. Results: Cognitive behavioral treatment resulted in a substantially lower relapse rate (35%) than did clinical management ( 70%). Conclusions: Cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms reduces the risk of relapse in depressed patients, probably by affect ing the progression of residual symptoms to prodromes of relapse.