Cognitive therapy of depression: pretreatment patient predictors of outcome

This review examines the role of patient predictors of outcome in cognitive therapy of depression. Studies that meet eligibility criteria are reviewed for demonstrated linkage between various predictors (i.e., pretreatment severity, historical features, demographic predictors, dysfunctional attitudes and other cognitive features, and treatment acceptability) and outcome, and several effects are found. Notably, high pretreatment severity scores are associated with poorer response to cognitive therapy, as are high chronicity, younger age at onset, an increased number of previous episodes, and marital status. High pretreatment levels of dysfunctional attitudes and certain beliefs about the nature of depression were also found to predict differential response to cognitive therapy of depression. Limitations of the research and directions for further investigations of patient predictors of outcome in cognitive therapy of depression are provided.