Clinical guidelines for the treatment of depressive disorders III. Psychotherapy

Background: The Canadian Psychiatric Association and the Canadian Network f or Mood and Anxiety Treatments partnered to produce clinical guidelines for psychiatrists for the treatment of depressive disorders. Methods: A standard guidelines development process was followed Relevant li terature was identified using a computerized Medline search supplemented by review of bibliographies. Operational criteria were used to rate the quali ty of scientific evidence, and the line of treatment recommendations includ ed consensus clinical opinion. This section on "Psychotherapy " is 1 of 7 a rticles drafted and reviewed by clinicians. Revised drafts underwent nation al and international expert peer review. Results: Recommendations are given for the use of psychotherapy in the trea tment of depressive disorders. Considerable evidence shows that specific, s how-term psychotherapies including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and i nterpersonal therapy (IPT) are effective acute-phase treatments. There is a lso evidence that group and marital/couples for mats of psychotherapy are e ffective. There is only limited evidence that psychotherapy is effective fo r maintenance treatment of depressive disorders. Conclusions: Psychotherapy is effective in the treatment of depressive diso rders. Despite the evidence for effectiveness of specific psychotherapies, there is still limited access to these treatments in the community.