Short-term cognitive therapy shows promise for dysthymia
Short-term cognitive therapy offers a potentially effective approach to treating the chronically depressed patient. While drug therapy—either alone or in tandem with psychotherapy—can help, some patients with dysthymia can adopt a cognitive approach to conquer a life-long problem in just 3 to 6 months.
As I stated earlier, the final verdict on brief psychotherapy as an approach to dysthymia is not in. In its favor, patients often say they prefer psychotherapy to medication.14 On the other hand, they also prefer to discuss depression with their family physicians, rather than with mental health professionals.15 Markowitz reviewed empiric research on psychotherapy for dysthymia and found data supporting “some response” of chronic depression to brief cognitive therapy.16 Subsequently, two small studies by Dunner et al17 and Miranda and Munoz18 found small or no gains with psychotherapy.
Short-term cognitive therapy is being used with success in some patients as a psychotherapeutic approach to dysthymia. When it enables a chronically distressed individual to function normally, cognitive therapy may be a cost-effective, life-sustaining contribution of lasting value.
Related resources
- Schuyler D. A Practical Guide to Cognitive Therapy. New York: Norton, 1991.
- Moore JD, Bona JR. Depression and dysthymia. Med Clin North Am 2001;85(3):631-43.
- Markowitz JC. Psychotherapy of dysthymia. Am J Psychiatry 1994;151(8): 1114-21.
- Thase ME, Howland RH. Assessment and treatment of chronic depression. Clin Adv Treat Psychiatr Disord 1995;9(3):1-11.
