The effect of combined sertraline and positive psychotherapy on hopelessness and suicidal ideation among patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study was examined the effect of a combined treatment (sertraline and positive psychotherapy) compared to the pharmacotherapy (sertraline) alone on hopelessness and suicidal ideation of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Patients were 100 depressed outpatients treated with either combined treatment (n = 50) or pharmacotherapy alone (n = 50). Measures were taken multiple times over the course of treatment (at baseline, 2, and 7 months later). The results of the repeated measures ANOVAs showed that pharmacotherapy alone and combined treatment had beneficial effects with a superior effect of combined treatment on hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Our results suggest that pharmacotherapy alone may not be sufficient to protect patients with MDD from suicidal ideation, especially in the early phase of the treatment with sertraline. The present results suggest that combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy could be an effective option for treating major depressive disorder in both the short and long term.