Meta-analysis Comparison of the Effect of Medicinal Treatments and Psychological Interventions on the Level of Depression Symptoms

In recent years, psychologists and psychiatrists sought to evaluate and compare the validity and efficiency of psychological interventions and medicinal treatments in the field of depression disorder. In this regard, by integrating the results of different studies, meta-analysis determines the level of the effect of treatment methods. This study aims at investigating into the level of the effect of psychological interventions and medicinal treatments on reducing depression symptoms using the meta-analysis model. For this purpose, 65 methodologically acceptable studies were selected and the meta-analysis method was applied. The research tool used in this study is the meta-analysis checklist. The level of the effect of psychological interventions on reducing depression symptoms is found to be d=0/47 (P< 0/0001) which is considered an average level according to Cohen’s table. The level of the effect of medicinal treatments is d=0/62 (P< 0/0001), which is higher than average based on the above mentioned table. Therefore it seems that medicinal treatments along with psychological interventions can be applied as appropriate treatments for individuals suffering from depression symptoms.