The efficacy of adding short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy to antidepressants in the treatment of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data

We examined the efficacy of adding short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) to antidepressants in the treatment of depression by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data, which is currently considered the most reliable method for evidence synthesis. A thorough systematic literature search resulted in 7 studies comparing combined treatment of antidepressants and STPP versus antidepressant mono-therapy (n = 3) or versus antidepressants and brief supportive psychotherapy (n = 4). Individual participant data were obtained for all these studies and totaled 482 participants. Across the total sample of studies, combined treatment of antidepressants and STPP was found significantly more efficacious in terms of depressive symptom levels at both post-treatment (Cohen's d = 0.26, SE = 0.10, p = .01) and follow-up (d = 0.50, SE = 0.10, p