Telefonische Erhaltungstherapie für Patientinnen und Patienten mit Depression

Behavioral: Telephone-administered continuation therapy;Other: Usual care

Gender: All
Maximum age: 75 Years
Minimum age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

- Recurrent major depressive disorder or chronic/persistent depressive disorder based on
the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), or
first major depressive episode with an elevated risk for relapse (defined as the
presence of at least of the following clinical characteristics: index episode duration
= six months; severity of the index episode at least moderate; DSM-5 comorbidity;
residual symptoms at the end of index treatment)

- Having regularly terminated acute-phase CBT for depression (index treatment)

- Having achieved therapeutic response during index therapy defined as at least
25%-improvement in depressive symptoms between start and end of acute-phase therapy
based on a standardized symptom measure (e.g. PHQ-9, or Beck Depression Inventory;
BDI)

- Having experienced partial or full remission at the end of the index treatment based
on DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder

- Sufficient command of German language

- Having given written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unstable psychopharmacological medication regimen (either with or without
antidepressant (AD) medication) at the end of the index treatment, i.e. change in type
or dosage of medication envisaged at the end of index treatment

- Acute risk for suicide based on clinical practice guidelines; patients with
self-reported suicidal ideation are eligible as long as the treatment is deemed safe
by the clinician's judgment

- A history of or acute psychotic symptoms, bipolar disorder, or organic brain disorder

- Severe cognitive impairment based on clinical evaluation during index treatment