Optimum number of sessions for depression and anxiety.

AIM To examine the relationship between the number of psychological treatment sessions completed by patients (1-5 sessions, 6-8 sessions, >8 sessions) and the change in self-rated depressive and anxiety symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). METHOD Recording demographic characteristics and various clinical outcome measures for all referrals to the service and examining the relationship between changes in self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. RESULTS For depression, the study shows that having 6-8 sessions offers more benefit than 1-5 sessions. Having more than eight sessions does not confer any additional benefit. Indeed, there is little difference between 1-5 sessions and more than eight sessions for depression. For anxiety, symptoms appear to continue to improve with increasing numbers of treatment sessions. CONCLUSION Beyond eight treatment sessions, there appears to be no additional improvement. This is not the case for anxiety, where continuing treatment sessions appear to reduce symptoms.