SynthesisInternational journal of psychiatry in medicine2012
Brief psychotherapy for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in International journal of psychiatry in medicine, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05746767 (SUPERA), which is not on this map. Cited by 53 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
SUPERA: Supporting Peer Interactions to Expand Access to Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Spanish-speaking Safety-Net Patients in Primary Care
Who cites it
53 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 139 citations in OpenAlex.
- The efficacy of genetic counseling for familial colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis.Journal of genetic counseling · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of mind-body exercise for perinatal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Interventions to improve the mental health of women experiencing homelessness: A systematic review of the literature.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- Psychological interventions to foster resilience in healthcare students.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- The effectiveness of strength-based, solution-focused brief therapy in medical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of behavioral medicine · 2018Pooled it
- Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2016 Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: Section 2. Psychological Treatments.Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie · 2016Pooled it
- Comparative benefits and harms of second generation antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapies in initial treatment of major depressive disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2015Pooled it
- Mixed methods trial of a peer intervention for HIV and partner victimization in transgender women.Journal of counseling psychology · 2026Trial
- Six-Week Problem Area-Concordant vs 8-Week Problem Area-Discordant Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2025Trial
- The Effects of Adding Art Therapy to Ongoing Antidepressant Treatment in Moderate-to-Severe Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Trial
- Trial
- Efficacy of Three Low-Intensity, Internet-Based Psychological Interventions for the Treatment of Depression in Primary Care: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Trial
- The Impact of Integrating Physical Health into a Brief CBT Approach for Medically Ill Veterans.Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings · 2020Trial
- Effectiveness of Briefer Coping-Focused Psychotherapy for Common Mental Complaints on Work-Participation and Mental Health: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial with 2-Year Follow-Up.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2020Trial
- Delivery of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Medically Ill Patients in Primary Care: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of general internal medicine · 2017Trial
- A problem-solving intervention for cardiovascular disease risk reduction in veterans: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Contemporary clinical trials · 2017Trial
- Efficacy of low-intensity psychological intervention applied by ICTs for the treatment of depression in primary care: a controlled trial.BMC psychiatry · 2015Trial
- Stepped-care to prevent depression and anxiety in visually impaired older adults--design of a randomised controlled trial.BMC psychiatry · 2013Trial
- Integrating Behavioral Health Services for Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases: A Quantitative Analysis of a Pilot Study.ACR open rheumatology · 2026Article
- An examination of the impact of treatment on later risk for a substance use disorder in young people with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.Journal of mood and anxiety disorders · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveBecause evidence-based psychotherapies of 12 to 20 sessions can be perceived as too lengthy and time intensive for the treatment of depression in primary care, a number of studies have examined abbreviated psychotherapy protocols. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the efficacy of brief psychotherapy (i.e., < or =8 sessions) for depression.
methodsWe used combined literature searches in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and an Internet-accessible database of clinical trials of psychotherapy to conduct two systematic searches: one for existing systematic reviews and another for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Included studies examined evidence-based psychotherapy(s) of eight or fewer sessions, focused on adults with depression, contained an acceptable control condition, were published in English, and used validated measures of depressive symptoms.
resultsWe retained 2 systematic reviews and 15 RCTs evaluating cognitive behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. The systematic reviews found brief psychotherapies to be more efficacious than control, with effect sizes ranging from -0.33 to -0.25. Our meta-analysis found six to eight sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy to be more efficacious than control (ES -0.42, 95% CI -0.74 to -0.10, 12 = 56%). A sensitivity analysis controlled for statistical heterogeneity but showed smaller treatment effects (ES -0.24, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.06, 12 = 0%).
conclusionsDepression can be efficaciously treated with six to eight sessions of psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy and problem-solving therapy. Access to non-pharmacologic treatments for depression could be improved by training healthcare providers to deliver brief psychotherapies.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.