Rodrigo T Lopes1, Miguel M Gonçalves2, Daniel B Fassnacht3, Paulo P P Machado1, Inês Sousa4. 1. School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. 2. School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: mgoncalves@psi.uminho.pt. 3. Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Singapore. 4. Department of Mathematics and Applications, University of Minho, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In a previous clinical controlled trial (Lopes et al., 2014), narrative therapy (NT) showed promising results in ameliorating depressive symptoms with comparable outcomes to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) when patients completed treatment. This paper aims to assess depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems in this clinical sample at follow-up. METHODS: Using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 Interpersonal Relations Scale, naturalistic prospective follow-up assessment was conducted at 21 and 31 months after the last treatment session. RESULTS: At follow-up, patients kept improving in terms of depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems. The odds that a patient maintained recovery from depressive symptoms at follow-up were five times higher than the odds that a patient maintained recovery from interpersonal problems. In the same way, the odds of a patient never recovering from interpersonal problems were five times higher than the odds of never recovering from depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: The study did not control for the natural course of depression or treatment continuation. CONCLUSIONS: For depressed patients with greater interpersonal disabilities, longer treatment plans and alternative continuation treatments should be considered.
BACKGROUND: In a previous clinical controlled trial (Lopes et al., 2014), narrative therapy (NT) showed promising results in ameliorating depressive symptoms with comparable outcomes to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) when patients completed treatment. This paper aims to assess depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems in this clinical sample at follow-up. METHODS: Using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 Interpersonal Relations Scale, naturalistic prospective follow-up assessment was conducted at 21 and 31 months after the last treatment session. RESULTS: At follow-up, patients kept improving in terms of depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems. The odds that a patient maintained recovery from depressive symptoms at follow-up were five times higher than the odds that a patient maintained recovery from interpersonal problems. In the same way, the odds of a patient never recovering from interpersonal problems were five times higher than the odds of never recovering from depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: The study did not control for the natural course of depression or treatment continuation. CONCLUSIONS: For depressedpatients with greater interpersonal disabilities, longer treatment plans and alternative continuation treatments should be considered.