Which therapy works best for depression? new study pits CBT against EFT

NCT ID NCT04690946

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Institutt for Psykologisk Radgivning Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study compared two common talk therapies—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)—for treating depression. 112 adults with moderate or major depression received 14-18 sessions of one therapy. Researchers measured symptom changes and explored why treatments succeed or fail. The goal is to provide clearer guidance on which therapy works best and for whom.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help doctors choose the best talk therapy for depression and improve treatment outcomes.
What could go wrong: This is a completed study with 112 participants, so results are limited. It may not apply to everyone with depression, and individual responses vary.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for DEPRESSION are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression depressive disorder major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DEPRESSION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Institutt for Psykologisk rådgivning

Bergen, Bergen, 5012, Norway

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.