Combining psychotherapy, delivered over the telephone, with medication seems to improve the outcome of depression treatment, research shows.
In the United States, people who suffer depression are typically treated with an antidepressant, often prescribed by a primary care doctor, without formal psychotherapy.
A psychotherapy treatment called “cognitive-behavior” therapy or CBT involves learning to recognize and address distorted thoughts and feelings that lead to emotional distress. CBT is usually performed in an office setting. But with the addition of phone-based therapy, studies show that improvement in depression was greater in patients in the phone therapy group than in those assigned to usual care.
In fact, 77% of patients in the phone therapy group reported their depression was “much improved” or “very much improved,” compared to 63% of those in the usual-care group. Subjects in the phone therapy group were also slightly better at taking their antidepressant medication as recommended.
Study conclusions suggest that the addition of a brief, structured therapy program can significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients beginning antidepressant treatment.
SOURCE: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, April 2007.
In fact, approximately 85% of patients seen in a family physician’s office do not get referred to counseling to deal with the real problems associated and often inducing their depression.
The Glasgow Kiss is a great book to lead you back to the real problem, deal with it, and get back your life.
God Bless,
Dr. Benzinger
