Is Add-on Psycho-education Effective in the Treatment of Depression?

摘要: To the Editor: I read with interest study by Kumar and Gupta,1 published in March 2015 issue, on effectiveness of psycho-educational intervention patients depression their caregivers that found significant differences outcome measures. Psycho-educational interventions as add-on to pharmacotherapy were reported significantly reduce depressive symptoms well improve global functioning psychological wellbeing. have some reservations about these findings based facts study. First, mentioned authors, was carried out over a period 3 months, from April June 2012. All assessed at baseline, 4, 8, 12 weeks rating instruments. This would only been possible if all 80 recruited same day, last follow-up after months. appears highly improbable. Second, authors "a total eligible subjects randomised alternately into 2 groups"; such type alternate allocation is not true randomisation procedure.2 In subsequent paragraph they another group newly diagnosed served controls. again raises concern process randomisation. Third, it receiving medications (details mentioned) per discretion treating clinician, but exclusion criteria for included "partially treated or current treatment depression". seems counterintuitive. Fourth, 4 sessions (duration each session specified) given 2, 8 1 caregivers. The reduction scale score onwards group, i.e. when had psycho-education. At difference Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores between groups p References1. K, Gupta M. Effectiveness improving unipolar depression: results clinical trial. East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2015;25:29-34.2. Moher D, Hopewell S, Schulz KF, Montori V, Gotzsche PC, Devereaux PJ, et al. CONSORT 2010 Explanation Elaboration: Updated guidelines reporting parallel trials. J Clin Epidemiol 2010;63:e1-37.3. Rosenthal R. Meta-analytic procedures social research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage; 1991.4. Park E, Cho M, Ki CS. Correct use repeated measures analysis variance. Korean Lab Med 2009;29:1-9.Samir Praharaj, MBBS, MD, DPM (email: samirpsyche@yahoo.co.in)Department Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104Authors' ReplyTo welcome critical our paper. …