Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Adaptation to a Group Modality

Studies researching psychotherapeutic interventions for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are quite new to the field. The Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) is the only model developed specifically to treat the chronically depressed patient. While empirical evidence indicates that CBASP is an effective treatment for chronic depression, little is known about its adaptation to a group modality. Treating these patients in a group approach would have the added benefits of being cost-effective and providing in vivo previously avoided interpersonal situations for practising social skills and role-plays. This single arm study asks whether CBASP adapted to a group modality can be effective. All patients received 12 CBASP group therapy sessions with two to four individual preparatory sessions before the group. Our results suggest that CBASP group treatment demonstrated positive effects on patient outcomes. Specifically, patients showed significant decreases in symptoms of depression and the use of emotion-oriented coping, as well as increases in overall social adjustment and interpersonal self-efficacy when compared to pretreatment levels.However, patients did not achieve normative levels in these areas by the end of treatment. These pilot results are encouraging and support further study of the effectiveness of CBASP group treatment with a control group.