How effective is cognitive therapy at treating depression?

Cognitive therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is one of the most effective treatments for depression.

Studies consistently show that it is as helpful as antidepressant medication for mild to moderate depression, and can even help prevent relapses in people with recurrent depression.

1. Comparable to medication

• • A meta-analysis in JAMA Psychiatry found that CBT is as successful as antidepressants (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs) for many people with depression.

• • CBT alone is often sufficient for mild to moderate depression.

• • For severe depression, CBT combined with medication tends to yield the best results.

2. Reduces the risk of relapse

• • A study in The Lancet Psychiatry suggests that CBT reduces relapse rates even after treatment ends, whereas people who stop taking antidepressants often relapse.

• • Long-term benefits stem from CBT teaching skills to manage negative thinking even after therapy ends.

3. Highly useful for treatment-resistant depression

• • A study in The British Journal of Psychiatry discovered that patients who didn’t respond to medication showed a nearly 46% improvement when CBT was added.

4. More cost-effective than medication over time

• • Though CBT requires multiple therapy sessions, reports suggest it is more cost-effective than long-term medication use since it lowers relapse rates and dependency on treatment.

CBT has long-lasting effects and fewer side effects than medication.

It helps people retrain their thinking, improve coping skills, and reduce relapse risks if practiced consistently.

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