Depressive Symptoms and Emotion Regulation Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Depressive Symptoms and Emotion Regulation Following Outpatient Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: a Longitudinal Study

This study investigates depressive symptoms and the use of emotion regulation strategies over the course of a two-year period in participants terminating outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. The main objective of the study is to examine if changes in the use of certain emotion regulation strategies (e.g. reappraisal, rumination) predict depression relapse or changes in depressive symptoms after the completion of outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age older than 18 years
• regular termination of outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy for depression (or premature termination agreed upon by both the therapist and the patient because of symptom improvement after at least 12 sessions)
• last therapy session not more than two weeks prior to enrollment
• self-reported improvement in depressive symptoms as a result of cognitive behavioral therapy
• possession of a smartphone (operating system: Android or iOS) with Internet access
• possession of a laptop/desktop computer with Internet access
• familiarity with apps and the Internet
• fluency in German language

Exclusion Criteria:

• premature termination of outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy (exception: termination agreed upon by both the therapist and the patient because of symptom improvement)
• BDI-II score ≥ 20
• acute substance use disorder (< 3 months)
• current or past psychotic disorder
• current or past (hypo)manic episode
• acute suicidality
• severe neurological disorder/cerebral damage
• severe physical/medical illness