2023Cuijpers 2023Meta-analysisAcross 409 trials and 52,702 adults with depression, cognitive behavioural therapy produced moderate-to-large effects acutely and a durable edge long-term relative to waitlist, care-as-usual, pill placebo or antidepressants.
2017IMPACTAdolescentsIn 470 adolescents with moderate-to-severe MDD, CBT, short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy or brief psychosocial intervention produced equivalent 86-week response in head-to-head comparison.
2015PREVENTRelapse preventionIn 424 adults in remission from recurrent depression, MBCT with antidepressant taper achieved the same 24-month relapse as maintenance antidepressant therapy.
2014Cuijpers PlaceboMeta-analysisAcross 10 trials and 1,240 adults with depression, structured psychotherapy produced a small additional benefit over pill placebo.
2013CoBalTTreatment-resistantIn 469 primary-care patients with antidepressant-resistant depression, 12–18 sessions of CBT added to usual care improved 6-month response and sustained benefit at 46 months compared with usual care alone.
2006STAR*DSequential strategiesIn 4,041 outpatients with MDD, a sequential 4-step pharmacological strategy with CBT as a switch or augmentation option achieved cumulative remission across steps relative to each prior step.
2006Dimidjian BABehavioural activationIn 241 adults with MDD, behavioural activation achieved the same acute response in severe depression as paroxetine, cognitive therapy or pill placebo.
2005DeRubeis-HollonCBT vs pharmaIn 240 outpatients with moderate-to-severe MDD, 16 weeks of cognitive therapy matched response and protected against relapse after taper compared with paroxetine or pill placebo.
2004Ma & TeasdaleRelapse preventionIn 75 remitted MDD patients, MBCT + TAU again reduced 12-month relapse in the ≥3-episode subgroup compared with treatment as usual.
2004TADSAdolescentsIn 439 adolescents with major depression, fluoxetine + CBT produced the highest 12-week response compared with fluoxetine, CBT or placebo monotherapy.
2000Teasdale MBCTRelapse preventionIn 145 remitted MDD patients with ≥2 prior episodes, 8-session MBCT + treatment as usual reduced 60-week relapse in those with ≥3 episodes versus treatment as usual.
1989NIMH TDCRPCBT vs pharmaIn 250 outpatients with major depression, 16 weeks of cognitive therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy achieved the same acute response as imipramine + clinical management or pill placebo + clinical management.