Re:Combined CBT and medications

I don't have the references at hand, but a number of studies have looked at the effectiveness of CBT and antidepressant medication in combination as a treatment for depression. My recollection is that some studies found that a combined approach was no more effective than either CBT or antidepressant medication alone. Other studies found that the combination of CBT and antidepressant medication was more effective than either alone. My clinical experience is that for some individuals a combined approach is more effective but that for other individuals it doesn't add much.

I haven't seen any reports that adding antidepressant medication to CT decreases the effectiveness of CT for depression. There are some anxiety disorders where CBT alone is more effective than a combined approach.

There are a couple of studies that suggest that a combined approach will have a lower relapse rate than antidepressant medication alone. There also is reason to hypothesize that a combined approach will have fewer problems with noncompliance or with premature discontinuation of treatment than occur with antidepressant medication alone. However, I don't think I've seen studies that examint this.

Replies:

Re:Combined CBT and medications, by Eddy Fletcher, 10/16/02 Combined CBT and medications with anxiety disorders, by Jim Pretzer, 10/18/02 More Re:Combining CBT and medication in the treatment of anxiety disorders, by Jim Pretzer, 04/25/03 Re:Combined CBT and medications, by Angelo Husto, 10/21/02

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