Therapy interventions for depression

If you’re seeking effective therapy interventions for depression and wondering how to best integrate them into your practice, this article provides clarity.

Therapeutic interventions for depression involve a wide range of approaches that focus on emotional healing and helping clients cope in healthy ways.

Therapy interventions for depression address the mind, body, and environment, since depression is a complex condition that can be influenced by various factors in these areas.

In this article, we’ll provide a concise overview of depression, including its symptoms and the ways it impacts clients’ lives.

We’ll then look into evidence-based therapy interventions for depression, including depression interventions for adults and therapy for major depression, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

An overview of depression 

Depression is a mental health disorder that influences every aspect of a person’s life—emotional, cognitive, and physical. It isn’t just about feeling down. The cycle of depression often leaves individuals feeling persistently hopeless, unmotivated, or detached from their surroundings.

The World Health Organization predicted depression will become the leading cause of disability by 2030.

Depression is also strongly tied to suicide and premature mortality.

The symptoms of depression vary widely, but often include:

• Changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, or unexplained aches and pains
• Difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
• Disruption of social interactions (withdrawal from friends and family)
• Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that were once enjoyable
• Neglect of responsibilities, such as work, school, or household duties

You can find the right  ICD-10 code for depression here, as well as additional codes in the SimplePractice ICD code library.

Untreated depression can make other problems harder to deal with. For example, untreated depression can weaken the immune system, which increases the likelihood of developing chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, or stomach issues.

Moreover, clients may find it difficult to stick to medical treatments or maintain healthy habits, which can worsen their physical health.

3 therapeutic interventions for depression 

A treatment plan for depression typically includes evidence-based therapy methods to help individuals manage symptoms, build coping skills, and adopt healthier thoughts and behaviors.

Below are some of the most widely used therapeutic interventions for depression:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is widely supported by research as one of the most effective therapy interventions for depression.

When it comes to therapy for major depression, specifically major depressive disorder (MDD), cognitive behavioral therapy is considered a first-line treatment. It can also be combined with medication for more severe cases.

CBT has lasting benefits, even after the therapy sessions have ended.

Patients who improve during CBT are less likely to experience a return of their symptoms compared to those treated with antidepressant medications alone.

In addition to the use of coping skills for depression worksheets, therapists may also use CBT worksheets and CBT exercises to help individuals identify and challenge the negative thought patterns that fuel depression.

For instance, a client who believes, “I’m a failure because I made a mistake at work,” may feel worthless. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, clients learn to replace this thought with a constructive one, like, “Mistakes are normal. I can learn and improve.”

Working with younger populations

CBT for kids differs from adult-focused cognitive behavioral therapy in various ways.

To make concepts age-appropriate, a therapist may use dolls, puppets, or role-playing.

Parents or caregivers are also included in therapy interventions for depression to reinforce skills at home.

It’s important to note that younger clients may need extra guidance in identifying and labeling their emotions before working on their thought patterns.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

Another of the leading interventions for depression, IPT is a short-term therapy originally designed to treat major depression but has since been adapted for other conditions like bipolar disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, and PTSD.

Interpersonal therapy usually involves 12 to 16 weekly sessions to improve relationships and manage symptoms.

In IPT, the therapist and patient work together to identify a main interpersonal problem to focus on during therapy.

This problem usually fits into one of four categories:

Grief  

Grief may be an area of focus when a client has trouble coping with the loss of a loved one and difficulty forming new relationships.

Role transition

The client struggles with a big life change, like having a baby, retiring, or facing illness.

Role dispute

This includes conflicts in important relationships, like with a spouse, parent, or boss.

Interpersonal deficits

Feeling lonely or isolated due to lack of social connections.

The goal of IPT is to help clients understand how their relationships might make their depression better or worse.

With better relationships, they may feel happier and more supported.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

MBCT blends mindfulness exercises and meditation with cognitive therapy to help clients manage negative thoughts. As a result, they develop greater self-compassion and learn how to break free from the cycle of depression.

Exercises in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy that help individuals become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations include:

• Mindful breathing
• Body scan meditation
• Mindful movement, such as yoga or stretching
• Loving-kindness meditation
• Daily mindfulness practices (bringing mindfulness into everyday activities like eating or doing chores)

A study that looked at six clinical trials with 593 patients found that MBCT helped reduce the chances of depression coming back.

Specifically, people who used MBCT had a 34% lower risk of relapse compared to those who received regular care or a placebo.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

DBT is designed for individuals who struggle with intense emotions, particularly emotions that feel difficult to manage.

Although it was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT has been adapted to help clients with depression.

In dialectical behavior therapy and through the use of DBT worksheets, clients will learn skills to regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, improve relationships, and stay present in the moment (mindfulness).

Some valuable therapy interventions for depression include teaching clients coping mechanisms for handling emotional discomfort or suffering.

For instance, a DBT technique called opposite action can help clients combat depressive behaviors. If they typically isolate themselves due to sadness, they are asked to do the opposite—like reaching out to a friend or doing an activity they enjoy.

Individual vs. group therapy for depression

Depression interventions for adults can be done one-on-one or in a group, and each option has its own benefits. The choice depends on what works best for the client, their preferences, and the type of therapy being used.

In individual therapy, the therapist can guide the client step-by-step while providing immediate feedback and support.

Group therapy, on the other hand, provides clients with the opportunity to connect with others who are dealing with similar challenges.

Therapists can use worksheets in both situations to reinforce the concepts and techniques clients learn in the therapy room.

For example, in individual CBT sessions, a therapist might have the client complete a coping skills for depression worksheet to help them identify negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier alternatives.

Additionally, they may use this depression activity scheduling worksheet to assist the client in planning activities that bring them a sense of accomplishment—which is particularly helpful for overcoming the lack of motivation that is common in depression.

Closing thoughts

Therapy interventions for depression involve various approaches to meet the unique needs of each client.

Whichever evidence-based mental health model you use—CBT, IPT, MBCT, or DBT—the goal is to equip clients with tools to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

When it comes to interventions for depression, therapists can choose between individual or group therapy and use tools like worksheets to fit each client’s needs.

Taking into account a client’s mindset, emotions, and relationships allows therapists to properly support the healing journey.

Sources

• Karrouri, R. et al World J Clin Cases. 2021, Nov 6. Major depressive disorder: Validated treatments and future challenges
• Driessen, E.  Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010 Sep. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mood Disorders: Efficacy, Moderators and Mediators
• Lipsitz, J. Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Sep 25. Mechanisms of Change in Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
• Kuyken, W. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Jun 18. Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse

  

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