Psychotherapy of depression. Implications for reform of the health care system

Abstract

This article reviews the empirical evidence supporting the role of psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions in the treatment of patients with depression. Treatment models and the evidence for their effectiveness in the acute-and maintenance-treatment phases are reviewed. Whereas the sophistication of research designs and data analysis for the study of psychotherapy have substantially improved, the review highlights current gaps in our knowledge. Most important for reform of the health care system is the need for studies of efficacy to lead to large-scale investigations of effectiveness.