CBT vs All Other Depression Treatments: Massive Meta-Analysis of 409 Trials
Is CBT better than other depression treatments?
CBT is one of the most effective treatments for depression and often outperforms other approaches, especially over the long term. Evidence from the largest psychotherapy meta-analysis ever conducted shows strong advantages across comparisons.
CBT works by helping patients change negative thought patterns that maintain depressive symptoms, which may explain its long-lasting results.
What the data show:
- Against no treatment: 42% respond to CBT vs 19% in controls
- Against antidepressants: equal short-term, better at 6-12 months
- Against other psychotherapies: slightly better, but small differences
- Combined treatment: therapy + medication beats meds alone but not CBT alone
A landmark meta-analysis in World Psychiatry reviewed 409 trials with 52,702 patients and found CBT consistently effective across all major comparisons.