Emotionally-focused therapy and treatment as usual comparison groups in decreasing depression: A clinical pilot study

Keywords

emotionally-focused couples therapy, clinical study, depression

Abstract

Decades of research have shown that depression can have deleterious effects on couple relationships. Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004) is an empirically validated form of couple therapy, which has shown effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms in couples where the wife has depression. The aim of the current pilot study was to examine the extent to which EFT and the comparison treatment as usual (TAU) therapy group decrease depressive symptoms in distressed couples. Results show that both groups were effective in decreasing depressive symptoms, with EFT showing a clinically significant reduction. Clinical implications and future research are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Alder, M. C., Dyer, W. J., Sandberg, J. G., Davis, S. Y., & Holt-Lunstad, J. (2018). Emotionally-focused therapy and treatment as usual comparison groups in decreasing depression: A clinical pilot study. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 46(5), 541-555.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2019-05-02

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6995

Publisher

The American Journal of Family Therapy

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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