TREATMENT OUTCOME OF A GROUP COGNITIVE THERAPY PROGRAM FOR DEPRESSION

A 12-session group program of cognitive therapy, designed by the first author, was evaluated with 35 persons suffering from major or minor depressive disorders. Effect-size scores were generated using the method of Nietzel, Russell, Hemmings, and Gretter (1987) and compared with cut-off points calculated using the method of Jacobson and Revenstorf (1988) and the norms established by Nietzel et al. (1987) in their metaanalysis. The effects of the Group Cognitive Therapy Program were found to be clinically significant according to the criteria of Jacobson and colleagues (Jacobson and Revenstorf, 1988; Jacobson, Follette and Revenstorf, 1984) for 73% of patients. It is concluded that the Group Cognitive Therapy Program is a clinically efficacious and cost-effective treatment for persons suffering from nonpsychotic, primary, unipolar depression.