Comparing the Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Pharmacotherapy on Psychological Distress Reduction in Adults: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Psychological distress, encompassing conditions like anxiety and depression, significantly affects the well-being of adults globally, particularly in regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy in alleviating psychological distress among young adults in this area. A randomized controlled trial was conducted over 120 days with 200 participants aged 18–35 years. Standardized psychological assessments, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), were used, along with measures of physical activity and sleep quality. Participants were randomly assigned to either CBT or pharmacotherapy. Both CBT and pharmacotherapy significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms. However, CBT showed a 37% greater reduction in depression and a 29% greater reduction in anxiety compared to pharmacotherapy. CBT also led to a 22% improvement in physical activity and a 30% enhancement in sleep quality, whereas the pharmacotherapy group showed 16% and 15% improvements, respectively. Dopamine levels increased by 14.37 units in the CBT group versus 10.88 units in the pharmacotherapy group, highlighting a stronger neurobiological effect from CBT. Gender-specific analysis revealed that females experienced a 42% reduction in depression symptoms with CBT, while males showed similar improvements with both treatments. These results emphasize CBT as a more effective, holistic, and sustainable approach to managing psychological distress. The study stresses the importance of personalized, culturally sensitive mental health interventions to address the growing mental health challenges among young adults in Pakistan.