Telephone Therapy Good Against Depression

Psychotherapy can be an effective strategy for combating depression, but many people don’t have access to a therapist. A new study suggests that telephone counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy. Over 200 volunteers with major depression were randomized to receive either phone therapy or face-to-face contact with a therapist. Each group got four and a half months of weekly sessions. One-third of the subjects assigned to face-to-face therapy dropped out of the program before it was completed. Only one fifth of those getting tele-therapy discontinued their therapy. The cognitive behavioral therapy was equally effective in both groups and the telephone provided a convenient strategy for people to get assistance in dealing with their depression.
[JAMA, June 5, 2012]