Application of outpatient short⁃term automatic recognition training in patients with comorbid anxiety and depression

ObjectiveTo investigate the application effect of outpatient short-term automatic thought recognition training in patients with comorbid anxiety and depression,and to provide references for optimizing outpatient treatment strategies.MethodsA total of 82 patients with comorbid anxiety and depression were divided into an automatic thought training combined with pharmacotherapy group(combined treatment group,37 cases) and a pharmacotherapy alone group(medication alone group,45 cases).The Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD) were used as primary outcome measures.A linear mixed⁃effects model was used to compare symptom changes between the two groups from the first outpatient visit to the last outpatient visit.ResultsThe linear mixed⁃effects model showed a statistically significant group⁃by⁃time interaction effect for HAMD total scores between the two groups(<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.001).The combined treatment group showed greater changes in depression total scores at the end of 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment compared with the medication alone group(<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05).The combined treatment group also showed greater changes in anxiety total scores at the end of 8 weeks compared with the medication alone group(<italic>P</italic>=0.02).ConclusionsIn patients with comorbid anxiety and depression,combined automatic thought training demonstrates better clinical efficacy in symptom improvement compared with pharmacotherapy alone.