CBT vs. Ericksonian Hypnotherapy for subclinical depression and anxiety: 12-month follow-up.

Abstract

Subclinical depression and anxiety are associated with significant psychological suffering, functional impairment, and increased risk of progression to clinical disorders, highlighting the importance of early intervention. This study examined the long-term outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (EH) in individuals with subclinical symptoms. Participants from a randomized controlled trial (n = 45) were followed over 12 months, with assessments at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Linear mixed-effects models indicated significant reductions in both depression and anxiety over time, with both CBT and EH outperforming the control condition. Improvements were largely maintained at follow-up, with only minor attenuation. No significant differences were observed between CBT and EH in overall effectiveness, although CBT showed slightly greater stability in depressive symptoms, while EH demonstrated marginally better maintenance of anxiety-related outcomes. Overall, both interventions produced durable and clinically meaningful improvements, supporting the role of early psychological intervention and highlighting EH as a viable complementary or alternative approach.