The GIFT program for major depression

Research suggests that group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an efficacious and potentially cost-effective treatment for major depression. Yet despite evidence of efficacy, there may be limitations to the effectiveness of group CBT in actual clinical practice. We introduce the Group, Individual, and Family Treatment (GIFT) program that builds upon current CBT theory and technology, but has been modified to create a potentially more effective version of group CBT. In this article, we describe the emotional fitness model of mental health upon which the GIFT program is based. We then describe how the GIFT program attempts to build upon existing group CBT programs by using an open-group format and repeated-group session format, and by the integration of individual and family-based interventions.