Counseling or Antidepressants for Treating Depression?

Abstract

Both antidepressant medications and psychologic treatment are beneficial for adult patients with mild to moderate depression, with no consistent evidence that one type of treatment is more effective than the other. [Strength of recommendation: A, based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews] There is limited evidence that antidepressant medications and cognitive behavioral therapy are similarly effective for patients with severe depression [Strength of recommendation: B, based on a single RCT]