[Cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in advanced schistosomiasis patients].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in advanced schistosomiasis patients.
Methods: A total of 60 advanced schistosomiasis patients with major depressive disorder were divided into a combination therapy group (30 cases) who received sertraline plus cognitive behavior therapy and a monotherapy group (30 cases) who received sertraline only. Before the treatment and at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th week after the treatment, the efficacy and safety were assessed with the HAMD17 item score and the related factor points and TESS. The effective rate, side effect rate and relapse rate in six months were calculated and compared between the two groups.
Results: At the end of 8th week after the treatment, the total scores of HAMD, factor scores of cognitive impairment, retardation factor scores and sleep disturbance factor scores in the 2 groups were statistically decreased compared with those before the treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The factor scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those in the monotherapy group. The effective rate in the combination therapy group was 86.7% (26/30), and it was significantly higher than that in the monotherapy group (56.7%, 17/30), (chi2 = 6.65, P < 0.05). The doses of the drug were lower in the combination therapy group than those in the monotherapy group (t = 2.25, P < 0.05). Within six months, the relapse rate was 13.3% in the combination therapy group, and it was significantly lower than that in the monotherapy group (46.7%) (chi2 = 7.937, P < 0.025). The side effect rate was 23.3% in the combination therapy group and that was 26.7% in the monotherapy group, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The combination therapy (drug combined with cognitive behavioral therapy) is effective in advanced schistosomiasis patients with depression, and it also can reduce the amount of medication and the relapse.