Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Article Title

The Long-term Effects of Short-term Psychotherapy on Depression: A Review of the Literature

Authors

Abstract

As depression is one of the most prevalent challenges to mental health today, there is a need for still farther research in this subject that has already received so much attention. There is a particular need for longitudinal studies of depression to determine the efficacy of psychotherapy as treatment. Additionally, there is a promising possibility for research into brief periods of treatment. Some of the psychotherapy literature focusing on the overlap of these two fields is examined. While many studies indicate that therapy brings about a decrease in depression symptoms, which is then maintained for as long as two years, there is another segment of the literature which emphasizes the likelihood of relapse over a longer time span. The limitations of these studies are examined. Of special interest is the most recent literature, indicating that therapy as brief as a single day can bring about a long-lasting decrease in symptoms.

Recommended Citation

(2010) "The Long-term Effects of Short-term Psychotherapy on Depression: A Review of the Literature," Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/intuition/vol6/iss1/6