Use of cognitive techniques is associated with change in positive compensatory skills in the treatment of major depressive disorder in a community mental health setting

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the association between adherence and competence in cognitive therapy (CT) techniques and change in positive compensatory skills and depressive symptoms within a community mental health setting.

Method:

Adherence ratings were available for 97 individuals receiving CT for major depressive disorder. Assessments of adherence and competence were rated on one early session of CT. Compensatory skills were measured using the Ways of Responding Community Version at baseline and months 1, 2, and 5. Symptom severity was evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression at baseline and months 1, 2, 4, and 5.

Results:

In mixed effects models, adherence was significantly associated with linear change in positive compensatory skills from baseline to month 5 (F [1, 76] = 8.05, p=.006, r=.31). Competence was also significantly associated with change in positive compensatory skills from baseline to month 5 (F [1, 78] = 5.1, p=.027, r=.25). High adherence was associated with improvements in HAM-D scores from baseline to month 5 (F [1, 78] = 5.1, p=.027, r=.25).

Conclusions:

Results support the hypothesis that use of CT techniques is associated with change in compensatory skills in a community mental health setting.

Keywords:

• adherence
• competence
• compensatory skills
• community mental health
• depression

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality under award number R01HS018440 and the National Institute of Mental Health under award R01-MH092363. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the National Institute of Mental Health.