A large international meta-analysis found that talk therapy for depression may last much longer than previously thought. A team of specialists from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam analyzed the results of 191 randomized clinical trials involving more than 33,000 people and concluded that even a few months of treatment can provide a noticeable improvement in mental health for many years.
The researchers examined the effectiveness of different psychotherapy methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and behavioral activation. The greatest improvement was observed about three months after the start of treatment. The effect then gradually declined over the first year, after which it unexpectedly stabilized. According to the combined data, people who completed a short course of psychotherapy continued to feel better than participants in control groups even eight years later.
Three months after the start of therapy, the likelihood of a marked reduction in depression symptoms was almost 70% higher than among participants in the control groups. Over time, this difference gradually narrowed, but even after five years the likelihood of maintaining improvement remained about 14% higher.
The study itself does not explain the mechanism behind this phenomenon. However, specialists have long suggested that psychotherapy works not only by providing temporary support, but also by helping people develop lasting skills in thinking and emotional self-regulation that they continue to use after treatment ends.
