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Efficacy of Couple Therapy as a Treatment for Depression: A Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

Data from clinical trials of couple therapy for depression have never been subjected to systematic analyses. We performed a meta-analysis of eight controlled trials involving 567 subjects. No difference was found on depressive symptoms between couple therapy and individual psychotherapy. Relationship distress was significantly reduced in the couple therapy group. Too few data are available for comparisons with drug therapy and no treatment. The findings are weakened by small sample sizes, assessments at the end of treatment or short follow-up, unclear sample representativeness, heterogeneity among studies. The mediating role of improvement in quality of couple relationships is not supported by data. However, it has not been adequately tested. Evidence on efficacy of couple therapy as a treatment for depression is inconclusive. The evidence for improvement in couple relationships may favor the choice of couple therapy when relational distress is a major problem.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Review Group trials search coordinator Hugh McGuire, for assistance in developing the search strategy and Corrado Barbui, editor of the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Review Group for his helpful suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Social Psychiatry Unit, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy

    Angelo Barbato & Barbara D’Avanzo

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  1. Angelo Barbato
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  2. Barbara D’Avanzo
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Correspondence to Angelo Barbato.

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Barbato, A., D’Avanzo, B. Efficacy of Couple Therapy as a Treatment for Depression: A Meta-Analysis. Psychiatr Q 79, 121–132 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-008-9068-0

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