The interaction of drug- and psychotherapy in the long-term treatment of depression

Recent advances in our understanding of both short- and long-term therapeutic interventions for depressive disorders have necessitated greater precision in defining appropriate therapeutic interventions. While these remarkable changes in treatment have been based on the introduction of newer antidepressant agents, the advances have occurred because of more systematic clinical trials and a greater sophistication in defining diagnostic and treatment response criteria. This paper reviews key findings in recurrent depression with respect to long-term treatment. Particular attention is paid to the combination treatment of psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs.