There are many non-pharmacological approaches to the treatment of depression, which can be used together with antidepressants.2,5,8 Although the empirical data behind the different psychological treatments varies between treatments, many continue to improve the evidence base supporting their use in people with depression.2
References:
1.Cuijpers P, Berking M, Andersson G, et al. A meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioural therapy for adult depression, alone and in comparison with other treatments. Can J Psychiatry 2013; 58 (7): 376–385.
2.Lam RW, Kennedy SH, Adams C, et al. Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2023 update on clinical guidelines for management of major depressive disorder in adults: Réseau canadien pour les traitements de l’humeur et de l’anxiété (CANMAT) 2023: mise à jour des lignes directrices cliniques pour la prise en charge du trouble dépressif majeur chez les adultes. Can J Psychiatry 2024; 69 (9): 641–687.
3.Malhi GS, Bell E, Bassett D, et al. The 2020 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2021; 55 (1): 7–117.
4.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Depression in adults: treatment and management. Guideline 222, June 2022. © NICE, June 2022, updated September 2024. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222. Accessed April 2025.
5.Sadock BJ, Sadock VA, Ruiz P (eds). Kaplan & Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 10th edition. Vol 1–2. © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2017.
6.Parikh SV, Quilty LC, Ravitz P, et al. Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2016 Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: Section 2. Psychological Treatments. Can J Psychiatry 2016; 61 (9): 524–539.
7.Cho C-H, Lee H-J, Kim Y-K. Telepsychiatry in the treatment of major depressive disorders. In: Dong H, Rezaei N, Steinlein O, et al. (ed). Advances in experimental medicine and biology. Vol 1456: recent advances and challenges in the treatment of major depressive disorder. © Springer, 2024.
8.Marx W, Penninx BWJH, Solmi M, et al. Major depressive disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9 (1): 44.
