Jb. Persons et al., Results of randomized controlled trials of cognitive therapy for depression generalize to private practice, COGN THER R, 23(5), 1999, pp. 535-548
We compared outcomes of 45 depressed patients treated in private practice w
ith cognitive therapy or with cognitive therapy plus pharmacotherapy to out
comes of patients receiving those treatments in two randomized controlled t
rials. Private practice and research samples differed considerably, with pr
ivate practice patients having more psychiatric and medical comorbidities a
nd a greater range of initial depression severity. Treatment in private pra
ctice and research settings also differed, with private practice treatment
conducted in a more flexible manner using an idiographic, formulation-drive
n approach. As predicted, private practice patients showed statistically si
gnificant reductions in depressive symptomatology over the course of treatm
ent, and at posttreatment, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores of patien
ts treated in private practice and research settings were not statistically
significantly different. Clinical significance of outcomes was also compar
able in the clinical and research samples. Of the variables measuring demog
raphic, illness, and treatment factors, only pretreatment BDI score predict
ed posttreatment BDI score in he private practice sample.