Abstract
Internet-based treatment for adults with depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial
Many depressed people don’t receive help for their symptoms and there are various barriers that impede help-seeking. The Internet may offer interesting alternatives for reaching and helping people with depression. Depression can be treated effectively with Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). But a short intervention, based on problem solving therapy (PST), could constitute a worthwhile alternative for CBT. In this study we evaluated the effectiveness of Internet-based CBT and Internet-based PST in comparison to a waiting list control group (WL), and determined the differences between the two treatments. A total of 263 participants were randomized to the three conditions. The main inclusion criterion was presence of depressive symptoms (≥ 16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale). CBT and PST consisted of eight and five weekly lessons, respectively. Participants were supported by e-mail. Self-report measures of depression, anxiety and quality of life were filled in at pretest and after five, eight and 12 weeks. Between-group effect sizes for depressive symptoms were 0.54 for CBT after eight weeks (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25 – 0.84) and 0.47 for PST after five weeks (95% CI: 0.17 – 0.77). These effects were further improved at 12 weeks (CBT: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.41 – 0.98; PST: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.36 – 0.95). For anxiety, effect sizes were also at a medium level. Effect sizes for quality of life were low. After 12 weeks, clinical significant change was significant higher for CBT (N = 34, 38.6%) and PST (N = 30, 34.1%) than for WL (N = 0). Both Internet-based treatments are effective in reducing depressive symptoms, although the effect of PST is realized more quickly.
Many depressed people don’t receive help for their symptoms and there are various barriers that impede help-seeking. The Internet may offer interesting alternatives for reaching and helping people with depression. Depression can be treated effectively with Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). But a short intervention, based on problem solving therapy (PST), could constitute a worthwhile alternative for CBT. In this study we evaluated the effectiveness of Internet-based CBT and Internet-based PST in comparison to a waiting list control group (WL), and determined the differences between the two treatments. A total of 263 participants were randomized to the three conditions. The main inclusion criterion was presence of depressive symptoms (≥ 16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale). CBT and PST consisted of eight and five weekly lessons, respectively. Participants were supported by e-mail. Self-report measures of depression, anxiety and quality of life were filled in at pretest and after five, eight and 12 weeks. Between-group effect sizes for depressive symptoms were 0.54 for CBT after eight weeks (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25 – 0.84) and 0.47 for PST after five weeks (95% CI: 0.17 – 0.77). These effects were further improved at 12 weeks (CBT: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.41 – 0.98; PST: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.36 – 0.95). For anxiety, effect sizes were also at a medium level. Effect sizes for quality of life were low. After 12 weeks, clinical significant change was significant higher for CBT (N = 34, 38.6%) and PST (N = 30, 34.1%) than for WL (N = 0). Both Internet-based treatments are effective in reducing depressive symptoms, although the effect of PST is realized more quickly.
| Original language | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 202-212 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Psychologie en Gezondheid |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
