Group cognitive evolutionary therapy for depression: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Depression ranks among the most widespread mental disorders globally and is a leading cause of disability. Despite increasing research efforts and substantial financial investment, the incidence of depression continues to rise. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Evolutionary Therapy (CET) delivered in a brief group therapy format for treating mild to moderate depression. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial will compare two conditions-CET group therapy and a waitlist control-at three time points: pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up. The study will include 64 Romanian participants aged 18 to 65 with mild to moderate depression. DISCUSSION: Group therapy may enhance the processing of distal causes of depression by leveraging their universal and social nature, potentially increasing the efficacy of CET. If successful, these findings could lead to the development of more efficient and time-saving therapeutic protocols for depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT06359769, version 03/04/2026. Registered on June 04, 2024.