BACKGROUND

Several studies have shown that telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy (T-CBT) is superior to forms of no treatment controls. No study has examined if the skills-training component to T-CBT provides any benefit beyond that provided by nonspecific factors.

OBJECTIVE

To test the efficacy of a 16-week T-CBT against a strong control for attention and nonspecific therapy effects.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial including 12-month follow-up.

SETTING

Telephone administration of psychotherapy with patients in their homes.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants had depression and functional impairments due to multiple sclerosis.

INTERVENTIONS

A 16-week T-CBT program was compared with 16 weeks of telephone-administered supportive emotion-focused therapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder, Beck Depression Inventory score, and Positive Affect scale score of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale.

RESULTS

Of the 127 participants randomized, 7 (5.5%) dropped out of treatment. There were significant improvement during treatment on all outcome measures (P<.01 for all) and an increase in Positive Affect Scale score. Improvements over 16 weeks of treatment were significantly greater for T-CBT, compared with telephone-administered supportive emotion-focused therapy, for major depressive disorder frequency (P = .02), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (P = .02), and Positive Affect Scale score (P = .008), but not for the Beck Depression Inventory score (P = .29). Treatment gains were maintained during 12-month follow-up; however, differences across treatments were no longer evident (P > .16 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients showed significant improvements in depression and positive affect during the 16 weeks of telephone-administered treatment. The specific cognitive-behavioral components of T-CBT produced improvements above and beyond the nonspecific effects of telephone-administered supportive emotion-focused therapy on evaluator-rated measures of depression and self-reported positive affect. Attrition was low.