50 years of research on depression psychotherapy leave a surprising fact: we have not improved anything

Since the 70s, hundreds of studies have examined the effects of psychotherapies against the depression. They have done it with many different experimental approaches and designs. They have done it insistently and, as if that were not enough, in an increasing number.

That has allowed us to know two things: the first is that psychotherapies They are effective. The second is that this effectiveness has not moved an apex in 50 years.

How can we know? To begin with, thanks to Pim Cuijpers, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at Amsterdam University. He and a team of researchers They gathered 562 randomized controlled trials that had been published in the last 50 years. These essays are the highest methodological quality that are currently (although, as the authors point out, average Caldiad is not as high as it should).

In total, the researchers gathered information of 66,361 patients. Most American adults, but with a significant number of people from other countries. From there, they only had to weigh the interventions, the results and see what happened.

What did they find? To begin with, they found that psychotherapies work. In fact, his conclusions were that, as the years go by (and studies), the “evidence that psychotherapies are effective is solid and grows over the years.” The surprise was not that, of course.

The surprise was that, for many studies that have been added over the years, “they found no sign that the effects of therapies (psychological against depression) have improved.” None. The effectiveness of these treatments has remained surprisingly stable throughout all these years.

And how does all this leave psychotherapy? In a strange situation. In a context in which the consumption of benzodiazepines does not stop growing (and, remember, Spain is World Ansiolithic Consumption Leader With more than 91 daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants), psychotherapies appear as an effective solution; But we are not improving.

That is, we have a tool, but we cannot climb it. If the problem continues to grow (and is doing it), we will need more and more resources. Resources that, from the financial crisis and despite the concern of recent years, do not seem to be arriving.

The question is no longer “What are we failing“,” Why we can’t improve more “,” where is what limits us to go further “, which also: the question is how we do it better. And it is urgent to find an answer.

Image | Cuijpers et Atls | Nik Shuliahin

In Xataka | Work stress as germ of depression: work pressure enhances mental disorders