Meta-Analysis of Therapeutic Treatments on Depression
Major
Psychology
Department
Psychology
Degree
Graduate
Mentor
Richard Osbaldiston
Mentor Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Reed, Emily K., "Meta-Analysis of Therapeutic Treatments on Depression" (2016). University Presentation Showcase Event. 2.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2016/graduate/2
Abstract
Depression is reported to affect 10% of US adults every year, and we spend $10 billion treating depression. Is there a difference in effectiveness between traditional talk therapy, medications, or the combination in treating depression? To answer this question, we meta-analyzed 10 studies (N = 2162) that compared these three types of interventions. Overall, the combination of treatments was more effective than either talk therapy or medication alone (d = 4.35 vs 1.93 and 2.53). These findings were moderated by how the depression symptoms were measured. Traditional measures of depression (BDI and Hamilton) showed much larger effect sizes than less commonly used measures (DAS, DEQ, SOS-10, and SPSI). In our society which focuses on quick fixes for complex problems, clinicians who prescribe antidepressant medications should take into consideration the added benefits of talk therapy in order to create the most beneficial treatment plan for their patients.
Presentation format
Poster
Poster Number
016
Meta-Analysis of Therapeutic Treatments on Depression
Depression is reported to affect 10% of US adults every year, and we spend $10 billion treating depression. Is there a difference in effectiveness between traditional talk therapy, medications, or the combination in treating depression? To answer this question, we meta-analyzed 10 studies (N = 2162) that compared these three types of interventions. Overall, the combination of treatments was more effective than either talk therapy or medication alone (d = 4.35 vs 1.93 and 2.53). These findings were moderated by how the depression symptoms were measured. Traditional measures of depression (BDI and Hamilton) showed much larger effect sizes than less commonly used measures (DAS, DEQ, SOS-10, and SPSI). In our society which focuses on quick fixes for complex problems, clinicians who prescribe antidepressant medications should take into consideration the added benefits of talk therapy in order to create the most beneficial treatment plan for their patients.
