Efficacy of antidepressants and psychotherapy in the treatment of depression

Abstract

The present study is a systematic review of meta-analysis in order to determine the effectiveness of antidepressants in the treatment of depression compared with psychotherapy. The methodology of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) was used to select 21 recent meta-analysis studies on the subject, and found that 48% supported the superiority and effectiveness of psychotherapy, 38% did not find sufficient evidence to establish a solid conclusion on equivalence or superiority of either, and 24% indicated that both were equally effective. No study of meta-analysis concluded that antidepressant use was higher in effectiveness over psychotherapy. A Clinical Practice Guidelines on the treatment of depression was reviewed, finding that the use of antidepressants in minor depression or mild major depression (with exceptions) is not recommended, and moderate to severe major depression should receive a combination therapy of antidepressants and psychotherapy.