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Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Chronic Depression

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The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Psychiatry ((CCPSY))

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Abstract

A significant percentage of patients diagnosed with depression will go on to suffer a chronic form of the illness. Chronic depression is associated with greater symptom severity, psychosocial impairment, health-care utilization costs, incidence of suicide, and inpatient hospitalization treatments. Evidence-based treatments for depression, both psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic, have demonstrated limited effectiveness in individuals with chronic forms of depression. Thus there is a great need for the development and empirical testing of novel treatment strategies. This chapter provides in-depth coverage of two newer forms of psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). For each of these exciting new treatments, a thorough review of the following elements is provided: conceptualization of depression, core principles and techniques, and representative outcome studies. Finally, a case example of a chronically depressed patient is provided in which ACT is used as a psychotherapeutic treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    John D. Matthews M.D., M.Sc.

  2. Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 1 David King Hall, 4400 University Drive, MSN 3F5, Fairfax, VA, 22030-4422, USA

    James Doorley B.A.

Authors
  1. John D. Matthews M.D., M.Sc.
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  2. James Doorley B.A.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John D. Matthews M.D., M.Sc. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Timothy J. Petersen

  2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Susan E. Sprich

  3. Simches Research Building, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Sabine Wilhelm

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Matthews, J.D., Doorley, J. (2016). Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Chronic Depression. In: Petersen, T., E. Sprich, S., Wilhelm, S. (eds) The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Current Clinical Psychiatry. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2605-3_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2605-3_22

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2604-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2605-3

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