How effective is CBT at preventing relapse?

1) One group of studies looked at how effective add-on CBT is at preventing any type of relapse.

When comparing people doing add-on CBT versus people having usual care these studies show that:

  • ANY TYPE OF RELAPSE

    MEDICATION + CBT
    51 in 100
    people doing add-on CBT will NOT RELAPSE within 6 months up to 2 years
    49 in 100
    people will RELAPSE
    MEDICATION + USUAL CARE
    35 in 100
    people having usual care will NOT RELAPSE within 6 months up to 2 years
    65 in 100
    people will RELAPSE

2) Another group of studies looked at how effective add-on CBT is at preventing relapse into depression.

When comparing people doing add-on CBT versus people having usual care, these studies show that:

  • RELAPSE INTO DEPRESSION

    MEDICATION + CBT
    70 in 100
    people doing add-on CBT will NOT RELAPSE into depression within 6 months up to 2 years
    30 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into depression
    MEDICATION + USUAL CARE
    55 in 100
    people having usual care will NOT RELAPSE into depression within 6 months up to 2 years
    45 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into depression

3) Another group of studies looked at how effective add-on CBT is at preventing relapse into hypomania.

When comparing people doing add-on CBT versus people having usual care, these studies show that:

  • RELAPSE INTO HYPOMANIA

    MEDICATION + CBT
    72 in 100
    people doing add-on CBT will NOT RELAPSE into hypomania within 6 months up to 2 years
    28 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into hypomania
    MEDICATION + USUAL CARE
    66 in 100
    people having usual care will NOT RELAPSE into hypomania within 6 months up to 2 years
    34 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into hypomania
Studies show that taking medication AND doing add-on CBT is better than medication and usual care at preventing all types of relapse. It appears better at preventing depression than hypomania.

Meta-analyses based on randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of relapse in people with bipolar I and II disorders with follow-ups of at least 3 months.