Original Research J Clin Psychiatry June 2026

Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD Treatment Outcome in Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Prolonged Exposure

JCP 2026;87(3):10.4088/JCP.25m16236

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. Clinical Summary Many veterans with PTSD also have major depressive disorder, and that comorbidity can complicate treatment choice when trauma-focused therapy is hard to tolerate or less effective. This study asks a practical question clinicians face every day: whether comorbid MDD changes retention and PTSD outcomes differently in prolonged exposure versus interpersonal psychotherapy. FAQ How did comorbid major depressive disorder affect PTSD outcomes in prolonged exposure therapy?

Key Takeaways In this veteran sample, prolonged exposure had substantially poorer retention overall than interpersonal psychotherapy, with 52.9% versus 22.4% completing fewer than 8 sessions; patients in interpersonal psychotherapy also completed more sessions on average (9.8 vs 7.1, t=3.66, P<.001). Clinical Guide How should clinicians use current major depressive disorder status when choosing between interpersonal psychotherapy and prolonged exposure for veterans with PTSD? Clinical Guide How should clinicians monitor completion and PTSD outcomes in veterans receiving interpersonal psychotherapy or prolonged exposure when current MDD status is known?