Integrating psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of depression

Depression is a common, often incapacitating, disorder characterized by emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are both effective, but limited, treatments for depression. Integration of these modalities has the potential to combine the benefits and compensate for the limitations of each approach, thereby significantly enhancing positive therapeutic outcomes. Integrated treatment for depression may be conducted by a single therapist or by two therapists, one providing psychotherapy and one pharmacotherapy. In either form of integration, it is essential for the therapist or therapists to be mindful of potential complications and to deal with them in constructive ways. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.