Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: Helping Clients Learn New Skills

The purpose of this study is to compare two psychological treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD): cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and CBT-Skill Enhanced (CBT-SE). CBT is well-studied, research-supported treatment for depression. CBT-SE is a variant of CBT that places greater focus on helping clients to developing the skills of CBT. The study will enroll 150 participants with MDD. Participants will be randomized to CBT or CBT-SE, with 75 participants being assigned to each condition. For both conditions, treatment will be provided over 12 weeks, with a 6 month follow-up period. Potential participants are asked to complete an initial screening and an intake evaluation to determine eligibility. After entering the study, participants are asked to complete evaluations at 4 weeks and at 12 weeks. They are also asked to respond to self-report instruments before and after each session. Following the 12 week treatment, participants are asked to complete monthly follow-up surveys for 6 months. The primary objectives of this study are three-fold. The first is to compare the outcomes of the two treatments. The second is to evaluate potential mediators of any treatment differences. The third is to evaluate the process of change in these two versions of CBT.