2003/10/01 by André Dessaulles, Susan M. Johnson, Wayne H. Denton · 168 citations
Psychology · Medicine · #Attachment and Relationship Dynamics #Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development #Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications #Pharmacotherapy #Desipramine #Psychological intervention #Major depressive disorder #Depression (economics) #Clinical psychology #Psychology #Psychiatry #Medicine #Psychotherapist #Anxiety #Antidepressant #Mood
paper · doi:10.1080/01926180390232266
published in American Journal of Family Therapy 31(5), 345-353 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 2003/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for couples was compared to pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Eighteen distressed couples in which the female partner met diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to 16 weekly sessions of emotion-focused therapy or pharmacotherapy with desipramine, trimipramine, or trazadone. Twelve couples completed the study. Both interventions were equally effective in symptom reduction. There was some evidence that females receiving EFT made greater improvement after the conclusion of treatment than those receiving pharmacotherapy. The results suggest EFT might be useful in the treatment of comorbid major depressive disorder and relational distress.