Predictors of treatment change and engagement in cognitive-behavioral group therapy for depression.

Examined predictors of treatment response in 48 individuals (mean age 40.71 yrs) who presented for participation in a 10-session cognitive-behavioral group therapy program for depression. The majority of Ss carried a diagnosis of major depression and all were concurrently on at least 1 antidepressant medication. The therapeutic approach involved an integration of 2 empirically supported therapies: Beck\u27s cognitive therapy (A. T. Beck et al, 1979) and Lewinsohn\u27s Coping With Depression course (P. M. Lewinsohn et al, 1984). Ss completed the Burns Depression Checklist, the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS), and the Burns Hopelessness Scale, a 5-item questionnaire which assesses the degree of optimism/pessimism an individual has regarding mood and symptom control. No significant differences were found on pretreatment dysfunctional attitudes or depressive symptomatology between individuals who dropped out of treatment and treatment completers. However, pretreatment hopelessness scores were significantly higher in dropouts than in individuals who completed treatment. Increased pessimism about symptom control was also related to fewer reductions in DAS scores throughout treatment among completers and to poorer overall treatment response. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved