Group CBT for patients with depression in substance abuse treatment

January 01, 0001

Group CBT for patients with depression in substance abuse treatment

The Building Recovery by Improving Goals, Habits, and Thoughts (BRIGHT) study was a community-based effectiveness trial by US investigators that compared residential substance abuse treatment with residential treatment plus group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression delivered by substance abuse treatment counselors. They used a nonrandomized controlled trial with a quasi-experimental intent-to-treat design in which 4 sites were assigned to alternate between the intervention and usual care conditions every 4 months for 2 years. They assigned 299 clients to receive either usual care (n = 159) or usual care plus the intervention consisting of 16 2-hour sessions (n = 140). Follow-up rates at 3 and 6 months after the baseline interview were 88.1% and 86.2%, respectively, for usual care and 85.7% and 85.0%, respectively, for the intervention group.

They found: "Intervention clients reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms and had improved mental health functioning. At 6 months, intervention clients reported fewer drinking days and fewer days of problem substance use on days available."

The authors concluded: "Providing group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression to clients with persistent depressive symptoms receiving residential substance abuse treatment is associated with improved depression and substance use outcomes. These results provide support for a new model of integrated care."

It would also be helpful to know longer term outcomes.

For the full abstract, click here.

Arch Gen Psychiatry 68(6):577-584, June 2011 © 2011 to the American Medical Association
An Effectiveness Trial of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients With Persistent Depressive Symptoms in Substance Abuse Treatment. Katherine E. Watkins, Sarah B. Hunter, Kimberly A. Hepner, et al. Correspondence to Dr. Watkins: [email protected]

Category: Z. Social Problems, P. Psychological. Keywords: substance abuse, cognitive behavioral therapy, depression, quasi- experimental controlled trial, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 21 June 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.