Talk therapy gave small gains in depression and drinking.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   1,721 people with drinking problems and depression took part in 12 studies. Their ages ran from 16 to 68, and the studies came from Australia, the USA and Ireland.

2. 02

   What they did

   Groups got therapy that challenges unhelpful thoughts, along with motivational talks. Most of these were added to usual treatment, and the programmes ran from one session to 36, some online or by text. The other groups got usual treatment, a short treatment, other therapy or a placebo.

3. 03

   What happened

   Depression fell more in the therapy groups than in the other groups. Drinking fell a little more too. Six to 12 months later, drinking was still lower in the therapy groups, but depression was not clearly lower.

What the review found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 12 studies, the therapy groups had less depression at the end than the other groups.

   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested

   Pooled analysis of 12 studies · vs people who got usual treatment, a placebo or other treatment · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

2. HelpedGoals

   Across 12 studies, the therapy groups drank a little less than the other groups.

   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested

   Pooled analysis of 12 studies · vs people who got usual treatment, a placebo or other treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

3. HelpedGoals

   Six to 12 months later, the therapy groups still drank less than the other groups.

   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested

   Pooled analysis of 8 studies · vs people who got usual treatment, a placebo or other treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

4. No differenceOther outcomes

   Six to 12 months later, the therapy groups did not clearly have less depression than the other groups.

   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested

   Pooled analysis of 7 studies · vs people who got usual treatment, a placebo or other treatment · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

Source