scholarly journals Cognitive behavioural therapy for major psychiatric disorder: does it really work? A meta-analytical review of well-controlled trials

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lynch ◽  
K. R. Laws ◽  
P. J. McKenna

BackgroundAlthough cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is claimed to be effective in schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder, there have been negative findings in well-conducted studies and meta-analyses have not fully considered the potential influence of blindness or the use of control interventions.MethodWe pooled data from published trials of CBT in schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder that used controls for non-specific effects of intervention. Trials of effectiveness against relapse were also pooled, including those that compared CBT to treatment as usual (TAU). Blinding was examined as a moderating factor.ResultsCBT was not effective in reducing symptoms in schizophrenia or in preventing relapse. CBT was effective in reducing symptoms in major depression, although the effect size was small, and in reducing relapse. CBT was ineffective in reducing relapse in bipolar disorder.ConclusionsCBT is no better than non-specific control interventions in the treatment of schizophrenia and does not reduce relapse rates. It is effective in major depression but the size of the effect is small in treatment studies. On present evidence CBT is not an effective treatment strategy for prevention of relapse in bipolar disorder.

BMJ Open ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. e006359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsuo Nakagawa ◽  
Mitsuhiro Sado ◽  
Dai Mitsuda ◽  
Daisuke Fujisawa ◽  
Toshiaki Kikuchi ◽  
...  

IntroductionMajor depression is a serious mental disorder that causes substantial distress and impairment in individuals and places an enormous burden on society. Although antidepressant treatment is the most common therapy provided in routine practice, there is little evidence to guide second-line therapy for patients who have failed to respond to antidepressants. The aim of this paper is to describe the study protocol for a randomised controlled trial that measures the clinical effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as an augmentation strategy to treat patients with non-psychotic major depression identified as suboptimal responders to usual depression care.Methods and analysisThe current study is a 16-week assessor-blinded randomised, parallel-groups superiority trial with 12-month follow-up at an outpatient clinic as part of usual depression care. Patients aged 20–65 years with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Major Depressive Disorder who have experienced at least one failed trial of antidepressants as part of usual depression care, will be randomly assigned to receive CBT plus treatment as usual, or treatment as usual alone. The primary outcome is the change in clinician-rated 17-item GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (GRID-HAMD) score at 16 weeks, and secondary outcomes include severity and change in scores of subjective depression symptoms, proportion of responders and remitters, safety and quality of life. The primary population will be the intention-to-treat patients.Ethics and disseminationAll protocols and the informed consent form comply with the Ethics Guideline for Clinical Research (Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). Ethics review committees at the Keio University School of Medicine and the Sakuragaoka Memorial Hospital approved the study protocol. The results of the study will be disseminated at several research conferences and as published articles in peer-reviewed journals. The study will be implemented and reported in line with the CONSORT statement.Trial registration numberUMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000001218.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e034913
Author(s):  
Rohan Michael Morris ◽  
William Sellwood ◽  
Dawn Edge ◽  
Craig Colling ◽  
Robert Stewart ◽  
...  

Objectives(1) To explore the role of ethnicity in receiving cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) for people with psychosis or bipolar disorder while adjusting for differences in risk profiles and symptom severity. (2) To assess whether context of treatment (inpatient vs community) impacts on the relationship between ethnicity and access to CBT.DesignCohort study of case register data from one catchment area (January 2007–July 2017).SettingA large secondary care provider serving an ethnically diverse population in London.ParticipantsData extracted for 30 497 records of people who had diagnoses of bipolar disorder (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code F30-1) or psychosis (F20–F29 excluding F21). Exclusion criteria were: <15 years old, missing data and not self-defining as belonging to one of the larger ethnic groups. The sample (n=20 010) comprised the following ethnic groups: white British: n=10 393; Black Caribbean: n=5481; Black African: n=2817; Irish: n=570; and ‘South Asian’ people (consisting of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people): n=749.Outcome assessmentsORs for receipt of CBT (single session or full course) as determined via multivariable logistic regression analyses.ResultsIn models adjusted for risk and severity variables, in comparison with White British people; Black African people were less likely to receive a single session of CBT (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.82, p<0.001); Black Caribbean people were less likely to receive a minimum of 16-sessions of CBT (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.98, p=0.03); Black African and Black Caribbean people were significantly less likely to receive CBT while inpatients (respectively, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.89, p=0.001; OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.94, p=0.003).ConclusionsThis study highlights disparity in receipt of CBT from a large provider of secondary care in London for Black African and Caribbean people and that the context of therapy (inpatient vs community settings) has a relationship with disparity in access to treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 207 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mats Hallgren ◽  
Martin Kraepelien ◽  
Agneta öjehagen ◽  
Nils Lindefors ◽  
Zangin Zeebari ◽  
...  

BackgroundDepression is common and tends to be recurrent. Alternative treatments are needed that are non-stigmatising, accessible and can be prescribed by general medical practitioners.AimsTo compare the effectiveness of three interventions for depression: physical exercise, internet-based cognitive–behavioural therapy (ICBT) and treatment as usual (TAU). A secondary aim was to assess changes in self-rated work capacity.MethodA total of 946 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression were recruited through primary healthcare centres across Sweden and randomly assigned to one of three 12-week interventions (trail registry: KCTR study ID: KT20110063). Patients were reassessed at 3 months (response rate 78%).ResultsPatients in the exercise and ICBT groups reported larger improvements in depressive symptoms compared with TAU. Work capacity improved over time in all three groups (no significant differences).ConclusionsExercise and ICBT were more effective than TAU by a general medical practitioner, and both represent promising non-stigmatising treatment alternatives for patients with mild to moderate depression.


2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Barrowclough ◽  
Gillian Haddock ◽  
Fiona Lobban ◽  
Steve Jones ◽  
Ron Siddle ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe efficacy of cognitive–behavioural therapy for schizophrenia is established, but there is less evidence for a group format.AimsTo evaluate the effectiveness of group cognitive – behavioural therapy for schizophrenia.MethodIn all, 113 people with persistent positive symptoms of schizophrenia were assigned to receive group cognitive – behavioural therapy or treatment as usual. The primary outcome was positive symptom improvement on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scales. Secondary outcome measures included symptoms, functioning, relapses, hopelessness and self-esteem.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the cognitive-behavioural therapy and treatment as usual on measures of symptoms or functioning or relapse, but group cognitive – behavioural therapy treatment resulted in reductions in feelings of hopelessness and in low self-esteem.ConclusionsAlthough group cognitive – behavioural therapy may not be the optimum treatment method for reducing hallucinations and delusions, it may have important benefits, including feeling less negative about oneself and less hopeless for the future.


2019 ◽  
pp. 070674371984742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryony Sheaves ◽  
Emily A. Holmes ◽  
Stephanie Rek ◽  
Kathryn M. Taylor ◽  
Alecia Nickless ◽  
...  

Objective:Nightmares are relatively common in patients experiencing psychosis but rarely assessed or treated. Nightmares may maintain persecutory delusions by portraying fears in sensory-rich detail. We tested the potential benefits of imagery-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for nightmares on nightmare severity and persecutory delusions.Method:This assessor-blind parallel-group pilot trial randomized 24 participants with nightmares and persecutory delusions to receive CBT for nightmares delivered over 4 weeks in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Assessments were at 0, 4 (end of treatment), and 8 weeks (follow-up). Feasibility outcomes assessed therapy uptake, techniques used, satisfaction, and attrition. The primary efficacy outcome assessed nightmare severity at week 4. Analyses were intention to treat, estimating treatment effect with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results:All participants offered CBT completed therapy (mean [SD], 4.8 [0.6] sessions) with high satisfaction, and 20 (83%) participants completed all assessments. Compared with TAU, CBT led to large improvements in nightmares (adjusted mean difference = −7.0; 95% CI, –12.6 to –1.3; d = –1.1) and insomnia (6.3; 95% CI, 2.6 to 10.0; d = 1.4) at week 4. Gains were maintained at follow-up. Suicidal ideation was not exacerbated by CBT but remained stable to follow-up, compared with TAU, which reduced at follow-up (6.8; 95% CI, 0.3 to 3.3; d = 0.7). CBT led to reductions in paranoia (–20.8; 95% CI, –43.2 to 1.7; d = –0.6), although CIs were wide. Three serious adverse events were deemed unrelated to participation (CBT = 2, TAU = 1).Conclusions:CBT for nightmares is feasible and may be efficacious for treating nightmares and comorbid insomnia for patients with persecutory delusions. It shows promise on paranoia but potentially not on suicidal ideation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 206 (6) ◽  
pp. 509-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee Spector ◽  
Georgina Charlesworth ◽  
Michael King ◽  
Miles Lattimer ◽  
Susan Sadek ◽  
...  

BackgroundAnxiety is common and problematic in dementia, yet there is a lack of effective treatments.AimsTo develop a cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) manual for anxiety in dementia and determine its feasibility through a randomised controlled trial.MethodA ten-session CBT manual was developed. Participants with dementia and anxiety (and their carers) were randomly allocated to CBT plus treatment as usual (TAU) (n= 25) or TAU (n= 25). Outcome and cost measures were administered at baseline, 15 weeks and 6 months.ResultsAt 15 weeks, there was an adjusted difference in anxiety (using the Rating Anxiety in Dementia scale) of (–3.10, 95% CI −6.55 to 0.34) for CBT compared with TAU, which just fell short of statistical significance. There were significant improvements in depression at 15 weeks after adjustment (–5.37, 95% CI −9.50 to −1.25). Improvements remained significant at 6 months. CBT was cost neutral.ConclusionsCBT was feasible (in terms of recruitment, acceptability and attrition) and effective. A fully powered RCT is now required.


2007 ◽  
Vol 191 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Byford ◽  
Barbara Barrett ◽  
Chris Roberts ◽  
Paul Wilkinson ◽  
Bernadka Dubicka ◽  
...  

BackgroundMajor depression is an important and costly problem among adolescents, yet evidence to support the provision of cost-effective treatments is lacking.AimsTo assess the short-term cost-effectiveness of combined selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) together with clinical care compared with SSRIs and clinical care alone in adolescents with major depression.MethodPragmatic randomised controlled trial in the UK. Outcomes and costs were assessed at baseline, 12 and 28 weeks.ResultsThe trial comprised 208 adolescents, aged 11–17 years, with major or probable major depression who had not responded to a brief initial psychosocial intervention. There were no significant differences in outcome between the groups with and without CBT. Costs were higher in the group with CBT, although not significantly so (P=0.057). Cost-effectiveness analysis and exploration of the associated uncertainty suggest there is less than a 30% probability that CBT plus SSRIs is more cost-effective than SSRIs alone.ConclusionsA combination of CBT plus SSRIs is not more cost-effective in the short-term than SSRIs alone for treating adolescents with major depression in receipt of routine specialist clinical care.


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