What is it about?
Many people with depression feel better after treatment but later experience a return of symptoms. It is unclear how well psychological therapies provided during the depressive episode are at protecting against relapse. Combining data from 31 studies we have shown that psychological therapies are associated with 32% lower odds of depression relapse compared to control conditions. Psychotherapies alone or combined with antidepressant medication (ADM) were more efficacious than ADM alone at reducing the risk of relapse.
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Why is it important?
This study suggests that acute-phase psychological treatments for depression, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, can be effective in reducing the risk of relapse compared to controls. The risk of relapse is lower following psychological treatment compared to antidepressant medication. Patients who only want treatment up to the point of recovery should be informed of the differential long-term effects on relapse risk.
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This page is a summary of: The efficacy of acute-phase psychological therapies for depression in preventing depressive relapse posttreatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis., Clinical Psychology Science and Practice, December 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/cps0000307.
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