Antidepressant Medication: A Case Study
Introduction
There has been a longstanding debate in the mental health field about whether psychotherapy is as effective in the treatment of depression as antidepressant medication. The aim of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of psychotherapy in relieving depressive symptoms, and reducing relapse in depressive disorders when compared to pharmacological interventions.
PICOT Question
In adult patients with a diagnosis of depression, how effective is psychotherapy when compared to antidepressants in preventing depression relapse 12 months following initiation of treatment? Currently, antidepressant medications are the most popular treatment for depression in the United States (Sansone, & Sansone, 2012). However, according to data collected …show more content…
As with the second study reviewed, the second study also had a very large number of patients who proved to be ineligible or who were declined for study participation, thereby lending to an assumption of selection bias (Kuyken, et al., 2008). The study assessed 1,469 patients for eligibility, listing the rationale for exclusion and inability to complete the study in full detail. A total number of 123 patients were included and eventually 104 were analyzed (Psychotherapy MBCT n=52; antidepressant medication ADM n=52). The third study used fewer instruments to measure outcome, although equally as valid and reliable to include: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and interestingly DSM IV (4th ed). Another interesting feature of this study is that all participants were taking ADM, as this was inclusion criteria, however the patients in the psychotherapy group were tapered off ADM over the course of the study. After the study period, which lasted for 15 months, rates of ADM usage in the psychotherapy group was significantly reduced, and 75% completely discontinued their ADM (Kuyken, et al.,
There has been a longstanding debate in the mental health field about whether psychotherapy is as effective in the treatment of depression as antidepressant medication. The aim of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of psychotherapy in relieving depressive symptoms, and reducing relapse in depressive disorders when compared to pharmacological interventions.
PICOT Question
In adult patients with a diagnosis of depression, how effective is psychotherapy when compared to antidepressants in preventing depression relapse 12 months following initiation of treatment? Currently, antidepressant medications are the most popular treatment for depression in the United States (Sansone, & Sansone, 2012). However, according to data collected …show more content…
As with the second study reviewed, the second study also had a very large number of patients who proved to be ineligible or who were declined for study participation, thereby lending to an assumption of selection bias (Kuyken, et al., 2008). The study assessed 1,469 patients for eligibility, listing the rationale for exclusion and inability to complete the study in full detail. A total number of 123 patients were included and eventually 104 were analyzed (Psychotherapy MBCT n=52; antidepressant medication ADM n=52). The third study used fewer instruments to measure outcome, although equally as valid and reliable to include: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and interestingly DSM IV (4th ed). Another interesting feature of this study is that all participants were taking ADM, as this was inclusion criteria, however the patients in the psychotherapy group were tapered off ADM over the course of the study. After the study period, which lasted for 15 months, rates of ADM usage in the psychotherapy group was significantly reduced, and 75% completely discontinued their ADM (Kuyken, et al.,