Drug and psychotherapy interactions in depression

Abstract

The authors conducted a series of multiple regression analyses of data from depressed patients. They found that 8 factors consistently predicted treatment response: a lower initial level of distress, imipramine treatment, a positive attitude toward group psychotherapy, and a good employment history predicted lower posttreatment distress levels; estrogen maintenance treatment was related to better response to diazepam, and a low level of intelligence predicted better response to both diazepam and imipramine; and a low initial level of interpersonal sensitivity and a significant other's having an unfavorable attitude toward psychiatric treatment were associated with better response to group psychotherapy.