How effective is psychotherapy in treating affective disorders?

Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for affective disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Meta-analyses of research studies have consistently found that psychotherapy is effective for treating affective disorders:

- A meta-analysis of 219 studies comparing psychotherapy with a control condition (e.g., waiting list, medication, non-specific treatment) found that psychotherapy was significantly more effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety (Cuijpers, Berking, & Andersson, 2010).

-Another meta-analysis of 136 studies found that psychotherapy was significantly more effective than medication in treating depression in the long term (LeCuyer et al., 2011).

Psychotherapy is effective for treating a range of affective disorders, including:

- Depression

- Anxiety disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder)

-Bipolar disorder

-Post-traumatic stress disorder

-Obsessive-compulsive disorder

The specific type of psychotherapy that is most effective for a particular individual will depend on their individual needs and preferences. Some of the most commonly used psychotherapies for affective disorders include:

- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

-Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

-Psychodynamic therapy

-Family therapy

-Group therapy

Psychotherapy is also an effective treatment for affective disorders in children and adolescents. A meta-analysis of studies on psychotherapy for child and adolescent depression found that psychotherapy was significantly more effective than control conditions in reducing symptoms of depression (Weisz et al., 2014).