Goal: To improve and innovate psychological treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), a better understanding on how symptoms ameliorate during treatment is essential. In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most investigated treatments for MDD, a
prominently hypothesized key therapy process to reduce depressive symptoms is the acquisition of CBT skills. However, it is unclear whether procedures focused on the acquisition of CBT skills play a causal role in the improvement of CBT skills. In addition, cognitive and neurobiological impairments inherent to MDD might interfere with efficient skill learning and patients may vary in these impairments and their capacity to learn. In this randomized trial, we isolate a single CBT Skill Acquisition Procedure (CBTSAP) and test its direct effects on CBT skills, change in related therapy processes and outcome. We hypothesize that the CBTSAP causes improvements in CBT skills, related therapy processes and outcome compared to an active control condition. In addition, we hypothesize that learning capacity moderates the effects of CBTSAP on change in CBT skills, related therapy processes and outcome. Last, we hypothesize that integrating mental imagery as cognitive support to strengthen the effects of the CBTSAP will be most beneficial for patients with low learning capacity.

This project is supported by NWO Rubicon.

Publications resulting from this project can be found here: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Improving-learning-capacity-in-CBT-for-depression

Protocol paper: https://cpe.psychopen.eu/index.php/cpe/article/view/8475

Goal: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are the most well established therapies for the treatment of depression. However, it is unknown what session frequency is needed for these psychotherapies to have optimal outcomes. Moreover, the debate as to which mechanisms underlie the effect of psychotherapy has not yet been resolved. Enhancing knowledge about the optimal session frequency and mechanisms of change seems crucial to optimize the (cost) effectiveness of psychotherapy for depression. In this study, we compared treatment outcome of twice-weekly versus once-weekly sessions of CBT and IPT. 

Publications resulting from this project can be found on this page: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Frequency-and-change-mechanisms-of-psychotherapy-among-depressed-patients-a-multicenter-randomized-trial-comparing-twice-weekly-versus-once-weekly-sessions-of-CBT-and-IPT

This project was supported by ZonMw and Stichting tot Steun VCVGZ