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Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in a University Psychology Clinic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Francisco José Estupiñá Puig  and
Francisco Javier Labrador Encinas
Francisco José Estupiñá Puig*
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
Francisco Javier Labrador Encinas
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Francisco José Estupiñá Puig. Clínica Universitaria de Psicología, Edificio Caracolas, Campus de Somosaguas S/N, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón – Madrid (Spain). Phone: +34-913942614. Fax: +34-913943010. E-mail: fjepuig@pas.ucm.es
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Abstract

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent mental disorder in our environment, and one of the main causes of disability. While several empirically supported treatments (ESTs) for MDD exist, some doubts have been cast on the applicability—in time, components, and effectiveness—of these ESTs in routine clinical practice. A few attempts have been made to contrast the effectiveness of ESTs, but usually the precise components of the treatment developed are not considered in detail. The purpose of this study is to analyze the components of an EST-based treatment on a sample of 69 MDD cases from a University Psychology Clinic, and to benchmark them against the results of published efficacy studies on ESTs (behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, interpersonal therapy). Results show that treatments delivered at this clinical facility are similar in components, length, and effectiveness (in effect size, completers and improved ratio) to the benchmarked studies. Cognitive restructuring is the most frequent component of the delivered treatments. Therapy results show a 3.12 effect size, and a 55.1% improved ratio over initial sample, an 80% of completers. Results and limitations of the current study, especially those related to sample and center characteristics, are discussed.

El Trastorno Depresivo Mayor (TDM) es el trastorno mental más prevalente en nuestro entorno y uno de las principales causas de incapacidad. Aunque se dispone de Tratamientos Empíricamente Apoyados (TEAs) para el mismo, existen dudas sobre la aplicabilidad, en tiempos y componentes, y la efectividad de estas intervenciones en la práctica profesional cotidiana. Son escasos los estudios que intentan contrastar la efectividad de los TEAs para el TDM, y no suele considerar en detalle los contenidos del tratamiento desarrollado. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las características del tratamiento basado en TEAs, en una muestra de 69 casos de TDM, en una Clínica Universitaria de Psicología (CUP), y compararlo con las referencias bibliográficas y resultados de los estudios de eficacia de TEAs (Activación Conductual, Terapia Cognitiva, Terapia Interpersonal). Los resultados señalan que las intervenciones de la CUP son similares en componentes, duración y efectividad (en tasa de abandonos, porcentaje de mejorados y tamaño del efecto) a los datos de referencia. La reestructruración cognitiva es el elemento más presente en los tratamientos. Los resultados terapéuticos señalan un Tamaño del Efecto de 3,12 y un porcentaje de mejorados del 55,1% sobre la muestra inicial, un 80% sobre los que completan el tratamiento. Se discuten los resultados y las limitaciones del estudio, en especial referidas a las características de la muestra y del centro.

Keywords

depressioneffectivenesscognitive behavioral treatmentclinical contextdepresiónefectividadtratamiento cognitivo conductualcontexto clínico
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , November 2012 , pp. 1388 - 1399
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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