Background: Patients with double depression (major depression + dysthymia) have a particularly chronic course of illness, yet few studies have investigated treatments for these patients.
Methods: 26 inpatients with double depression were assigned to two types of treatment: (1) pharmacotherapy and (2) combined treatment (pharmacotherapy + cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy). Treatment began while the patients were in the hospital and continued for 20 weeks after discharge. Comprehensive assessments were conducted at the end of treatment as well as at 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments.
Results: The results indicated that double-depressed patients who received the combined treatment had significantly lower levels of depression and higher social functioning at the end of treatment. However, no significant differences between groups were found at the follow-up assessments.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the addition of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy may produce an improved short-term outcome for patients with double depression.