New "Talk Treatment" or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy gains following, shows results.

The treatment of talking, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Patients with depression who fail to benefit from antidepressant drugs may do better if they are also treated with a type of "talking" psychotherapy called CBT, according to new research published on Friday.

In the first large-scale trial to test the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, alongside medication for depression, scientists said they found that the combination works where drug treatment alone fails.

Nicola Wiles of Bristol University's school of social and community medicine, who led the study, said the findings underline the need to increase the availability of therapy for depressed patients.

"While there have been initiatives to increase access to CBT in both the UK and Australia, worldwide initiatives are rare," she said in a statement.

Wiles and colleagues recruited 469 adults from across Britain who had not responded to at least 6 weeks of treatment with an antidepressant. For the study, 235 patients continued with their usual antidepressant medication, while 234 patients got their usual care plus CBT and were followed up for 12 months.

The results, published in The Lancet medical journal, showed that after 6 months, 46 percent of those who got CBT as well as their usual care had improved - reporting at least a 50 percent reduction in their depressive symptoms. This compared to 22 percent of those who did not get CBT.

Problems sleeping? Other options aside drugs are available.

The Washington Post just published a recent article about alternative options for sleeping problems, as well as some useful descriptions on some of the causes of sleep problems. Before you turn to drugs to aid in sleep, try these no nonsense options: 

Lifestyle changes. Behavior modification - such as changing sleep habits by getting up at the same time every day and avoiding naps - produced significant improvements for older adults with chronic insomnia, according to a 2011 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Seeing a therapist who specializes in insomnia might help 70 to 80 percent of people with chronic insomnia, often providing a "cure." (Pills treat the symptoms.) To find a sleep center where CBT is offered, call the American Academy of Sleep Medicine at 630-737-9700 or go to www.sleepcenters.org. Ask your insurer about coverage.

Exercise. A study of more than 3,000 adults, published in December in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity, found that 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity, such as running, improved sleep quality by as much as 65 percent. 

Read the full article here: 

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