Karp & Frank (1995) - Biological treatment of depression

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To compare drug treatment and non-drug treatments for depression.

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

Review article - research into the effectiveness of single treatments and combined drug and psychotherapeutic treatments of depression.

Question 3

Participants

Answer 3

Concentrated on women diagnosed with depression.

9 pieces of research (from 1974-1992), 529 women took part in the selected studies.

Question 4

Design

Answer 4

Depression analysed using a variety of depression inventories, all patients were tested prior to actual treatment, also tested after treatment using the inventories and possibly a follow-up.

Due to the nature of the study health practitioners were sometimes used to assess the patients.

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

Studies adding psychological treatments to drug therapy did not increase the effectiveness of the drug therapy.

People were more likely to continue with treatment if cognitive therapy was given in addition to drug therapy.

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

Drug therapy is very effective on depression, the evidence does not show any better outcomes for patients offered combined therapy as opposed to only drug therapy.