Background: This study set out to compare an integrative approach to therapy based on cognitive and psychodynamic principles with traditional cognitive behaviour therapy. Methods: 39 clients presenting to a university research clinic and meeting DSM V criteria for depression were randomly assigned to either cognitive psychodynamic or cognitive behavioural therapy with the PHQ9 scale used as the primary outcome measure. Findings: Both therapies resulted in significant reductions in PHQ9 scores from before to after therapy, and the magnitude of reduction was equivalent. Discussion: Cognitive psychodynamic therapy has equivalent efficacy to cognitive behaviour therapy and may be advantageous for clients where the roots of their depression are in early development.
Ward et al. (Sun,) studied this question.