Results of randomized controlled trials of cognitive therapy for depression generalize to private practice

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.