Benefits of Sequentially Adding Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or Antidepressant Medication for Adults With Nonremitting Depression

What is it about?

Failure to achieve remission from major depression after treatment with either an antidepressant medication or with cogntive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common clinical outcome. Here, we demonstrate that sequential addition of medication to CBT non-remitters, or addition of CBT to medication non-remitters, is an effective treatment approach, and that the ordering of the treatments does not affect eventual outcomes. Poorer outcomes overall are predicted by higher levels of anxiety prior to beginning treatment. Most patients receiving combination treatment will remain well for at least 18 months after the acute treatment phase.

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