Self-criticism and dependency in depressed patients treated with cognitivetherapy or pharmacotherapy

The current study aimed to assess the role of self-criticism and dependency in response to cognitive therapy (CT) or pharmacotherapy (PT). It was hypo thesized that (a) self-criticism would moderate treatment outcome to CT and PT, and (B) the degree of change in self-criticism and the relationship of this change to treatment response would be greater for patients treated wi th CT than for patients treated with PT. A sample of outpatients with unipo lar major depression received either CT (n = 51) or PT (n = 58). Neither pr etreatment self-criticism and dependency scores nor self-criticism and depe ndency change scores were found to predict response to PT. Treatment respon se to CT, however, was associated with pretreatment self-criticism scores a nd pre- and post-self-criticism change scores. Although highly self-critica l patients were more likely to have a poor response to CT, the degree to wh ich self-criticism was successfully reduced in treatment was shown to be th e best predictor of treatment response to CT.