‘Talking therapies’ better for depression than drugs

Depression affects millions of people, but they don’t need antidepressant drugs-any of the ‘talking therapies’ work better, say researchers.
Seven therapies that have been assessed by researchers from Bern University in Switzerland all produced results that were at least as good as powerful antidepressants-and some outperformed the drugs.
The seven therapies-interpersonal psychotherapy, behavioural activation, cognitive behavioural therapy, problem-solving therapy, psychodynamic therapy, social skills and training and supportive counselling-have been assessed in 198 trials, involving more than 15,000 patients with depression.
The researchers found there was very little difference between any of the therapies in terms of results, and all achieved “moderate to large” benefits that were mainly on a par with drugs.
(Source: PLOS Medicine, 2013; 10: e1001454).

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