Follow-up on Long-Term Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14196
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10030:Clinical psychology-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Kurata Chika 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 研究員 (00793431)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: うつ病 / 認知行動療法 / 長期観察 / 治療予測因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Depression is a diverse condition that often results in prolonged symptoms and long-term treatment, and has a significant impact on patients' lives. However, there are very few reports of long-term outcomes that have been examined from a psychological and sociological perspective based on valid scientific methodology. In this study, we followed and evaluated depressed patients who had been treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy for at least one year, and aimed to clarify the relationship between the long-term course of cognitive-behavioral therapy and a comprehensive assessment index of clinical indicators such as background factors, life circumstances, and symptoms. The results showed that 80% of the patients remained in remission about 4 years after the end of the cognitive-behavioral therapy, suggesting the persistent effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Free Research Field

臨床心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果、認知行動療法終結後約４年経過した後も80%は寛解に至っており、認知行動療法の持続性効果が示唆された。このことは、症状が遷延化し治療が長期に渡る場合が少なくないうつ病の治療において、認知行動療法によって効果が維持され、うつ病の再発が予防されていることを示唆している。この結果は、患者の症状改善にとどまらずquality of lifeにもつながることが期待される。