It’s helpful to treat depression because it directly targets several critical factors that maintain or worsen depressive symptoms, such as:

1. Depression often impairs problem-solving ability
   
   

Research shows that people’s ability to solve problems drops substantially when they are depressed.

They tend to:

• • See problems as insurmountable or unsolvable.
  • Feel stuck and avoid acting.
  • Make impulsive or poorly planned decisions.
  • Get trapped in rumination rather than actual problem-solving.

PST directly trains and improves problem-solving skills that aid in moving from helplessness (“I can’t fix this”) to action (“I have options and steps I can take”).

2. It builds control and competence

Feeling out of control is a huge driver of depression.

PST restores a sense of agency by teaching that, while you can’t control everything, you can control your approach to issues in life.

This perception of control is protective against depression, according to cognitive theories.

3. It stops the cycle of avoidance
   
   

When concerns feel too big, avoidance becomes the default coping strategy, and that only makes matters worse over time.

PST interrupts this pattern by encouraging small, achievable actions toward solutions.

Breaking that cycle of avoidance decreases feelings of failure and hopelessness.

4. It concentrates on the present and the future, not just the past

Unlike some therapies that heavily emphasize childhood experiences or analysis, PST is action-oriented and future-focused.

This can be refreshing for many people with depression because it gives them immediate tools to feel healthier and function better.

It aids in shifting from passive reflection to active change.

5. It teaches transferable life skills

The skills learned in PST, like defining problems clearly, brainstorming multiple solutions, and evaluating pros and cons, are useful across every area of life, such as relationships, work, finances, health, etc.

The effects of PST can last long after therapy ends because these are long-term coping strategies.

6. Evidence backs it up

Multiple studies have shown PST’s effectiveness:

• • A meta-analysis noted that PST notably reduces depressive symptoms, especially in primary care and older adult populations.
  • PST is as useful as antidepressant medication for some people with mild-to-moderate depression.
  • It’s even recommended in some clinical guidelines as a first-line treatment for depression in certain groups, like stroke survivors and caregivers.