Psychotherapy in the maintenance treatment of depression.

A review of epidemiologic and clinical data on depression suggests that psychotherapy is both an important alternative as well as a supplement to medication for the maintenance treatment of depression. Psychotherapy is an alternative for patients during periods when medication may not be suitable or feasible (e.g. pregnancy, nursing, before or during major surgery, or in the elderly). Psychotherapy also has a role in maintenance treatment in dealing with the social and interpersonal consequences or triggers of recurrent depression. Although the number of continuation or maintenance treatment trials that include psychotherapy is quite limited, the efficacy of maintenance treatment in the delay of recurrence and enhancement of social functioning is best established for interpersonal psychotherapy. There are also some results concerning cognitive and behavioural therapies for maintenance treatment of depression.