Intensive Psychotherapy for Chronic Depression
Chronic Depression, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Recurrent Major Depression

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Depression
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Inclusion criteria will be liberal and similar to clinical practice criteria at the treatment site which includes patients with the characteristics of chronic depression (CD), thus including patients with
- Persistent depressive disorder as defined by the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM5)
- Recurrent depressive disorder as defined by the International classification of diseases-10 (ICD-10)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Not having utilized reasonably available treatment in proximity to their residence
- A psychotic disorder
- Cluster A or B personality disorder
- Bipolar disorder,
- Ongoing substance abuse,
- Physical brain disorder
- Not having access to TAU while on the 12 week wait-list period.
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Active Comparator
Other
Active Comparator
High intensity high dosage inpatient short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (affect phobia therapy)
Treatment-as-usual
High intensity high dosage inpatient short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (VITA)
APT and VITA psychotherapy was carried out in accordance with treatment manuals. In addition to weekly individual sessions the inpatient program at both groups contained two 75 min group sessions each week. In addition, VITA had shorter group meetings each morning (15 minutes). Patients in both treatments participated in two physical exercise sessions per week, weekly psycho-educational lectures and art-therapy groups, and both groups finish each week with end of the week status groups. On average, patients in both treatments received seven sessions of therapeutic activity each week. All treatment components, with the exception of the physical exercises, adhered to the APT or VITA treatments, and thus the two intensive treatments were similar in dose but different in content. Medication was managed by psychiatrists, aiming to optimize the psychotropic medication regime, typically by reducing medication use.
TAU through public services locally, either outpatient treatment from a psychologist/psychiatrist and/or treatment/support from their local general practitioner.
APT and VITA psychotherapy was carried out in accordance with treatment manuals. In addition to weekly individual sessions the inpatient program at both groups contained two 75 min group sessions each week. In addition, VITA had shorter group meetings each morning (15 minutes). Patients in both treatments participated in two physical exercise sessions per week, weekly psycho-educational lectures and art-therapy groups, and both groups finish each week with end of the week status groups. On average, patients in both treatments received seven sessions of therapeutic activity each week. All treatment components, with the exception of the physical exercises, adhered to the APT or VITA treatments, and thus the two intensive treatments were similar in dose but different in content. Medication was managed by psychiatrists, aiming to optimize the psychotropic medication regime, typically by reducing medication use.