In the long run, drugs and talk therapy hold same value for people with depression

Spending an hour in talk therapy with a trained counselor costs much more, and takes more time, than swallowing an inexpensive antidepressant pill. But for people with a new diagnosis of major depression, the costs and benefits of the two approaches end up being equal after five years, a new study shows. Read ScienceDaily article here

Early Assessment of Online CBT May Improve Care Delivery

New research suggests the efficacy of online cognitive behavioral therapy can be determined within a few weeks of the intervention. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Could cognitive interventions be useful in treating depression?

A new study has examined whether cognitive bias modification (CBM) for facial interpretation, a digital health intervention that changes our perception for emotional expressions from negative to positive, might be useful in treating depression. Click here for ScienceDaily article

People with eating disorders benefit from specialist CBT and self-help programmes, says NICE

Adults with eating disorders could benefit from specialised cognitive behavioural therapy which aims to help patients better understand their condition, the new NICE draft quality standard says. Click here to read further. 

‘Shared Reading’ Therapy Eases Chronic Pain Symptoms

Shared reading (SR) — a literature-based intervention — can be a useful therapy for people suffering with chronic pain, according to a new study at the University of Liverpool in England. By engaging the whole person through literature, the treatment helps patients become consciously aware of and able to confront their deeper emotions related to chronic pain.

The researchers believe the therapeutic benefits of shared reading can extend even beyond those of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a treatment that has traditionally helped patients change their awareness of pain and develop stronger coping skills.

Psychotherapy-Only Treatment Seen As Preferred to Drugs-Only

A new review finds that people seeking help for mental disorders are more likely to refuse or not complete the recommended treatment if it involves only psychotropic drugs.

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 186 studies of patients seeking help for mental health issues. Investigators examined whether individuals accepted the treatment that was recommended and if they did, whether they completed it.

Fifty-seven of the studies, comprising 6,693 patients, had a component that reported refusal of treatment recommendations, and 182 of the studies, comprising 17,891 patients, had a component reporting premature termination of treatment.

Study Finds CBT Best Therapy for IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a painful and sometime debilitating condition that affects roughly one adult in 10. Previous studies have found that, on average, psychotherapy is just as effective as medications in reducing the severity of symptoms of this gastrointestinal disorder.

Although experts initially believed the type of psychotherapy used for the condition did not matter, a new study suggests one particular type of therapy is the most effect.

Individual Cognitive Therapy for PTSD Best for Active Duty Military

New research finds that although group and individual therapy are effective for PTSD among active-duty military service members, individual cognitive therapy relieves symptoms better and quicker.