TY - JOUR

T1 - Emotion-regulation skills training enhances the efficacy of inpatient cognitive behavioral therapy for major depressive disorder

T2 - A randomized controlled trial

AU - Berking, Matthias

AU - Ebert, David Daniel

AU - Cuijpers, Pim

AU - Stefan G, Hofman

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Background: Deficits in emotion regulation skills are possible factors maintaining major depressive disorder (MDD). Therefore, the aim of the study was to test whether integrating a systematic emotion regulation training (ERT) enhances the efficacy of routine inpatient cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for MDD. Methods: In a prospective randomized controlled trial, 432 inpatients meeting criteria for MDD were assigned to receive either routine CBT or CBT enriched with an intense emotion regulation skills training (CBT-ERT). Results: Participants in the CBT-ERT condition demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in depression (response rates-CBT: 75.5%, CBT-ERT: 84.9%; remission rates-CBT: 51.1%, CBT-ERT: 65.1%). Moreover, CBT-ERT participants demonstrated a significantly greater reduction of negative affect, as well as a greater increase of well-being and emotion regulation skills particularly relevant for mental health. Conclusions: Integrating strategies that target emotion regulation skills improves the efficacy of CBT for MDD.

AB - Background: Deficits in emotion regulation skills are possible factors maintaining major depressive disorder (MDD). Therefore, the aim of the study was to test whether integrating a systematic emotion regulation training (ERT) enhances the efficacy of routine inpatient cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for MDD. Methods: In a prospective randomized controlled trial, 432 inpatients meeting criteria for MDD were assigned to receive either routine CBT or CBT enriched with an intense emotion regulation skills training (CBT-ERT). Results: Participants in the CBT-ERT condition demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in depression (response rates-CBT: 75.5%, CBT-ERT: 84.9%; remission rates-CBT: 51.1%, CBT-ERT: 65.1%). Moreover, CBT-ERT participants demonstrated a significantly greater reduction of negative affect, as well as a greater increase of well-being and emotion regulation skills particularly relevant for mental health. Conclusions: Integrating strategies that target emotion regulation skills improves the efficacy of CBT for MDD.

KW - Health sciences

KW - Cognitive behavioral therapy

KW - Depression

KW - Emotion regulation

KW - Routine clinical care

KW - Skills training

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878042793&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1159/000348448

DO - 10.1159/000348448

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 23712210

VL - 82

SP - 234

EP - 245

JO - Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics

JF - Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics

SN - 0033-3190

IS - 4

ER -