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Angerer F, Mennel V, Grund S, Mayer A, Büscher R, Sander LB, Cuijpers P, Terhorst Y, Baumeister H, Domhardt M. Mechanisms of change in digital interventions for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of six mediator domains. J Affect Disord 2024; 368:615-632. [PMID: 39284530 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the efficacy of digital interventions for the treatment of depression is well established, comprehensive knowledge on how therapeutic changes come about is still limited. This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of research on change mechanisms in digital interventions for depression and meta-analytically evaluate indirect effects of potential mediators. METHODS The databases CENTRAL, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials investigating mediators of digital interventions for adults with depression. Two reviewers independently screened studies for inclusion, assessed study quality and categorized potential mediators. Indirect effects were synthesized with a two-stage structural equation modeling approach (TSSEM). RESULTS Overall, 25 trials (8110 participants) investigating 84 potential mediators were identified, of which attentional (8 %), self-related (6 %), biophysiological (6 %), affective (5 %), socio-cultural (2 %) and motivational (1 %) variables were the scope of this study. TSSEM revealed significant mediation effects for combined self-related variables (ab = -0.098; 95 %-CI: [-0.150, -0.051]), combined biophysiological variables (ab = -0.073; 95 %-CI: [-0.119, -0.025]) and mindfulness (ab = -0.042; 95 %-CI: [-0.080, -0.015]). Meta-analytical evaluations of the other three domains were not feasible. LIMITATIONS Methodological shortcomings of the included studies, the considerable heterogeneity and the small number of investigated variables within domains limit the generalizability of the results. CONCLUSION The findings further the understanding of potential change mechanisms in digital interventions for depression and highlight recommendations for future process research, such as the consideration of temporal precedence and experimental manipulation of potential mediators, as well as the application of network approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Angerer
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Vera Mennel
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Simon Grund
- Psychology with focus on Quantitative Methods, Universität Hamburg, Germany
| | - Axel Mayer
- Department of Psychological Methods and Evaluation, Bielefeld University, Germany
| | - Rebekka Büscher
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lasse B Sander
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yannik Terhorst
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Matthias Domhardt
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany.
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Lam RW, Kennedy SH, Adams C, Bahji A, Beaulieu S, Bhat V, Blier P, Blumberger DM, Brietzke E, Chakrabarty T, Do A, Frey BN, Giacobbe P, Gratzer D, Grigoriadis S, Habert J, Ishrat Husain M, Ismail Z, McGirr A, McIntyre RS, Michalak EE, Müller DJ, Parikh SV, Quilty LS, Ravindran AV, Ravindran N, Renaud J, Rosenblat JD, Samaan Z, Saraf G, Schade K, Schaffer A, Sinyor M, Soares CN, Swainson J, Taylor VH, Tourjman SV, Uher R, van Ameringen M, Vazquez G, Vigod S, Voineskos D, Yatham LN, Milev RV. Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2023 Update on Clinical Guidelines for Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults: Réseau canadien pour les traitements de l'humeur et de l'anxiété (CANMAT) 2023 : Mise à jour des lignes directrices cliniques pour la prise en charge du trouble dépressif majeur chez les adultes. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2024; 69:641-687. [PMID: 38711351 PMCID: PMC11351064 DOI: 10.1177/07067437241245384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) last published clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorder (MDD) in 2016. Owing to advances in the field, an update was needed to incorporate new evidence and provide new and revised recommendations for the assessment and management of MDD in adults. METHODS CANMAT convened a guidelines editorial group comprised of academic clinicians and patient partners. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on systematic reviews and meta-analyses published since the 2016 guidelines. Recommendations were organized by lines of treatment, which were informed by CANMAT-defined levels of evidence and supplemented by clinical support (consisting of expert consensus on safety, tolerability, and feasibility). Drafts were revised based on review by patient partners, expert peer review, and a defined expert consensus process. RESULTS The updated guidelines comprise eight primary topics, in a question-and-answer format, that map a patient care journey from assessment to selection of evidence-based treatments, prevention of recurrence, and strategies for inadequate response. The guidelines adopt a personalized care approach that emphasizes shared decision-making that reflects the values, preferences, and treatment history of the patient with MDD. Tables provide new and updated recommendations for psychological, pharmacological, lifestyle, complementary and alternative medicine, digital health, and neuromodulation treatments. Caveats and limitations of the evidence are highlighted. CONCLUSIONS The CANMAT 2023 updated guidelines provide evidence-informed recommendations for the management of MDD, in a clinician-friendly format. These updated guidelines emphasize a collaborative, personalized, and systematic management approach that will help optimize outcomes for adults with MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond W. Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sidney H. Kennedy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Camelia Adams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Anees Bahji
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Serge Beaulieu
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Venkat Bhat
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pierre Blier
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Elisa Brietzke
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Trisha Chakrabarty
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - André Do
- Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Benicio N. Frey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Giacobbe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David Gratzer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jeffrey Habert
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M. Ishrat Husain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zahinoor Ismail
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Alexander McGirr
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Roger S. McIntyre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Erin E. Michalak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel J. Müller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sagar V. Parikh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbour, MI, USA
| | - Lena S. Quilty
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Arun V. Ravindran
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nisha Ravindran
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Johanne Renaud
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Zainab Samaan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Gayatri Saraf
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kathryn Schade
- Office of Research Services, Huron University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ayal Schaffer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Sinyor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer Swainson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Valerie H. Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Rudolf Uher
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Michael van Ameringen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Gustavo Vazquez
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Simone Vigod
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daphne Voineskos
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lakshmi N. Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Roumen V. Milev
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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Sextl-Plötz T, Steinhoff M, Baumeister H, Cuijpers P, Ebert DD, Zarski AC. A systematic review of predictors and moderators of treatment outcomes in internet- and mobile-based interventions for depression. Internet Interv 2024; 37:100760. [PMID: 39139716 PMCID: PMC11320424 DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2024.100760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on predictors and moderators of treatment outcomes in internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) for depression, informing personalized care. A systematic search across PubMed, PsycInfo, and Cochrane yielded 33,002 results. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and methodological quality evaluation. Fifty-eight single studies (m = 466 analyses) focusing on baseline-predictors (59.7 %, m = 278), process-predictors (16.5 %, m = 77), and moderators (21.9 %, m = 102), and six individual patient data meta-analyses (m = 93) were included. Only 24.0 % (m = 112/466) of analyses in single studies and 15.1 % (m = 14/93) in individual patient data meta-analyses were significant. Evidence from single studies was rated as insufficient for all variable categories with only 2 out of 40 categories showing >50 % significant results. Baseline depression severity had the strongest predictive value with higher scores linked to better outcomes followed by variables indicative for the course-of-change. Other frequently analyzed and potentially relevant variables with significant results were adherence, age, educational level, ethnicity, relationship status, treatment history, and behavioral variables. More high quality quantitative studies with sufficient power are essential to validate and expand findings, identifying predictors and moderators specifically relevant in IMIs to explain differential treatment effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Sextl-Plötz
- Professorship for Psychology & Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Division of eHealth in Clinical Psychology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Maria Steinhoff
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Babeș-Bolyai University, International Institute for Psychotherapy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - David D. Ebert
- Professorship for Psychology & Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Anna-Carlotta Zarski
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Division of eHealth in Clinical Psychology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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4
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Cotter R, Burns J, Kaufman K, Kudla A, Ehrlich-Jones L, Wafford QE, Heinemann AW. Effectiveness of Behavioral and Pharmacologic Interventions for Depressive Symptoms After Spinal Cord Injury: Findings From a Systematic Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2024; 105:1733-1755. [PMID: 38266762 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize and evaluate evidence regarding the efficacy of interventions for depressive symptoms in adults living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and comorbid major depressive disorder or significant depressive symptoms to inform the development of clinical practice guidelines. DATA SOURCES Articles published since 2013 and available in Medline, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, or PsycINFO. Databases were searched in June 2022 and updated November 2023. STUDY SELECTION Inclusion criteria: age 18 years or older, traumatic SCI, and clinically significant depression (Population), mental health interventions including behavioral, pharmacologic, and complementary and alternative medicine (Intervention), inclusion of a control group (Comparator), with a primary outcome of depression symptom reduction (Outcome). Criteria were applied by multiple reviewers and disagreements were reconciled via unanimous decision among the entire research team. Eight articles of 2780 screened met the selection criteria. DATA EXTRACTION Data were extracted independently by multiple reviewers. Two reviewers independently assigned a quality score using the guidelines described by Hawker and associates and independently evaluated the risk of bias of each article using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. DATA SYNTHESIS All studies assessed depressive symptoms during participant recruitment, screening, and/or at a baseline assessment stage. Pharmacotherapy with venlafaxine XR and several behavioral interventions appear promising, including an online mindfulness course and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Remote interventions may be effective in reaching individuals who are unable to travel to in-person therapy sessions. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review provides valuable information for clinicians who treat individuals with SCI and comorbid major depressive disorder or significant depressive symptoms. It highlights the importance of considering a variety of interventions and individualizing treatment to meet individuals' needs and preferences. Future research should aim to identify effective interventions for treating depressive symptoms in individuals with SCI and optimal delivery methods for these interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Cotter
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
| | | | | | | | - Linda Ehrlich-Jones
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Q Eileen Wafford
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Allen W Heinemann
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
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5
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Mabil-Atem JM, Gumuskaya O, Wilson RL. Digital mental health interventions for the mental health care of refugees and asylum seekers: Integrative literature review. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024; 33:760-780. [PMID: 38291740 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to provide a critical analysis of the current literature on the use of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for the management and treatment of mental health disorders among refugees and asylum seekers. These groups are among the most disadvantaged compared to the general population in terms of health and socio-economic status, due to conflicts and wars. The number of refugees fleeing their home countries is growing exponentially, and refugees experience trauma, torture, persecution and human right abuses, which have a profound effect on their mental health and overall well-being. The researchers conducted an integrative literature review from electronic databases Medline, CINAHL and Google Scholar, selecting articles published in English from 2010 to 2023. The thematic analysis of the 10 articles identified in the review revealed four main themes and two sub-themes: (1) types of digital health intervention/apps used; (2) barriers encountered in digital health intervention; (3) user experience of the digital health intervention and (4) mapping gaps. Two sub-themes were identified located in Theme 2: (2.1) Language and demographic barriers and (2.2) Structural barriers. The study showed that the use of DMHIs was associated with positive experiences among refugees and asylum seekers. Limited mental health care is offered to refugees and asylum seekers due to a range of logistical, political, economic, geographical, language, cultural and social barriers. DMHIs have the potential to overcome and/or moderate these barriers. The study concludes that the scaled implementation of effective DMHIs holds the possibility to improve the wider distribution of mental health care among refugees and asylum seekers. However, further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of DMHIs and to scale up studies for their utilisation among this group. In summary, this study highlights the potential of DMHIs in improving the mental health care of refugees and asylum seekers. The results of this study have important implications for mental health service providers, policymakers and researchers to address the mental health needs of this vulnerable/priority group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oya Gumuskaya
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rhonda L Wilson
- University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
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6
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Zhang M, Fan C, Ma L, Wang H, Zu Z, Yang L, Chen F, Wei W, Li X. Assessing the effectiveness of internet-based interventions for mental health outcomes: an umbrella review. Gen Psychiatr 2024; 37:e101355. [PMID: 39040128 PMCID: PMC11261690 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2023-101355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Internet-based interventions (IBIs) for behavioural health have been prevalent for over two decades, and a growing proportion of individuals with mental health concerns prefer these emerging digital alternatives. However, the effectiveness and acceptability of IBIs for various mental health disorders continue to be subject to scholarly debate. We performed an umbrella review of meta-analyses (MAs), conducting literature searches in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane and Ovid Medline from their inception to 17 January 2023. A total of 87 MAs, reporting on 1683 randomised controlled trials and 295 589 patients, were included. The results indicated that IBIs had a moderate effect on anxiety disorder (standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.53, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.62) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (SMD=0.63, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.89). In contrast, the efficacy on depression (SMD=0.45, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.52), addiction (SMD=0.23, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.31), suicidal ideation (SMD=0.23, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.30), stress (SMD=0.41, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.48) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (SMD=0.47, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.73) was relatively small. However, no significant effects were observed for personality disorders (SMD=0.07, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.26). Our findings suggest a significant association between IBIs and improved mental health outcomes, with particular effectiveness noted in treating anxiety disorders and PTSD. However, it is noteworthy that the effectiveness of IBIs was impacted by high dropout rates during treatment. Furthermore, our results indicated that guided IBIs proved to be more effective than unguided ones, playing a positive role in reducing dropout rates and enhancing patient adherence rates. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023417366.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Zhang
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chuan Fan
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lijun Ma
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huixue Wang
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhenyue Zu
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Linxi Yang
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fenglan Chen
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenzhuo Wei
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Research Centre for Translational Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Opie JE, Vuong A, Welsh ET, Gray R, Pearce N, Marchionda S, Mutch R, Khalil H. Outcomes of Best-Practice Guided Digital Mental Health Interventions for Youth and Young Adults with Emerging Symptoms: Part I. A Systematic Review of Socioemotional Outcomes and Recommendations. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2024; 27:424-475. [PMID: 38489101 PMCID: PMC11222273 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-024-00469-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Youth-specific digital mental health interventions (DMHI) represent an emerging field of study, and aim to increase access, improve socioemotional outcomes, and, where required, support triage to targeted interventions. However, prior reviews have reported inconsistent findings on the clinical effectiveness of such interventions in young adults (12-25 years). Further, shortfalls remain for the impact of guided interventions based on the mode of delivery and the type of human support personnel (e.g., professional or peer) guiding the intervention. In response, this systematic review, co-designed with Australia's leading mental health organization, aims to assess the effectiveness of guided digital programs in improving youth socioemotional outcomes. Included studies involve young people experiencing mental ill-health, receiving brief (i.e., 1-12 sessions), digitally delivered (at least partially) psychological interventions that were guided or partially guided, tested in a type of experimental study, with a socioemotional outcome. Specific socioemotional outcomes examined were depression, anxiety, stress, wellbeing, mindfulness, and quality of life. A systematic search of the contemporary published and grey literature identified 22,482 records with 32 relevant records published between 2018 and 2023. A narrative synthesis guided integration of findings. Results demonstrated strong evidence for the effectiveness of guided interventions on socioemotional outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress) yet these effects were short-lived. When factoring in the use of different control groups (i.e., active vs. inactive), inconsistent effects were observed for the socioemotional outcomes of depression, anxiety, and stress. The mode of delivery (i.e., asynchronous, synchronous, combined) and the type of human support personnel did not appear to impact socioemotional outcomes. Results indicate efficacious brief digital interventions for depression and anxiety include refresher/follow-up content, goal setting content, and relapse prevention content. In contrast, poor efficacy is associated with interventions that include homework tasks, self-monitoring, and log-keeping content.PROSPERO, ID CRD42023405812.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Opie
- School of Psychology & Public Health, The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University, 8 Gardiner Street, Brunswick, Melbourne, VA, 3056, Australia.
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VA, 3000, Australia.
| | - An Vuong
- School of Psychology & Public Health, The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University, 8 Gardiner Street, Brunswick, Melbourne, VA, 3056, Australia
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VA, 3000, Australia
| | - Ellen T Welsh
- School of Psychology & Public Health, The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University, 8 Gardiner Street, Brunswick, Melbourne, VA, 3056, Australia
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VA, 3000, Australia
| | - Richard Gray
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VA, 3000, Australia
| | - Natalie Pearce
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VA, 3000, Australia
- Latrobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3551, Australia
| | - Sonia Marchionda
- School of Psychology & Public Health, The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University, 8 Gardiner Street, Brunswick, Melbourne, VA, 3056, Australia
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VA, 3000, Australia
| | | | - Hanan Khalil
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VA, 3000, Australia
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8
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Doukani A, Quartagno M, Sera F, Free C, Kakuma R, Riper H, Kleiboer A, Cerga-Pashoja A, van Schaik A, Botella C, Berger T, Chevreul K, Matynia M, Krieger T, Hazo JB, Draisma S, Titzler I, Topooco N, Mathiasen K, Vernmark K, Urech A, Maj A, Andersson G, Berking M, Baños RM, Araya R. Comparison of the Working Alliance in Blended Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Treatment as Usual for Depression in Europe: Secondary Data Analysis of the E-COMPARED Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e47515. [PMID: 38819882 PMCID: PMC11179025 DOI: 10.2196/47515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing interest has centered on the psychotherapeutic working alliance as a means of understanding clinical change in digital mental health interventions in recent years. However, little is understood about how and to what extent a digital mental health program can have an impact on the working alliance and clinical outcomes in a blended (therapist plus digital program) cognitive behavioral therapy (bCBT) intervention for depression. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to test the difference in working alliance scores between bCBT and treatment as usual (TAU), examine the association between working alliance and depression severity scores in both arms, and test for an interaction between system usability and working alliance with regard to the association between working alliance and depression scores in bCBT at 3-month assessments. METHODS We conducted a secondary data analysis of the E-COMPARED (European Comparative Effectiveness Research on Blended Depression Treatment versus Treatment-as-usual) trial, which compared bCBT with TAU across 9 European countries. Data were collected in primary care and specialized services between April 2015 and December 2017. Eligible participants aged 18 years or older and diagnosed with major depressive disorder were randomized to either bCBT (n=476) or TAU (n=467). bCBT consisted of 6-20 sessions of bCBT (involving face-to-face sessions with a therapist and an internet-based program). TAU consisted of usual care for depression. The main outcomes were scores of the working alliance (Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised-Client [WAI-SR-C]) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]) at 3 months after randomization. Other variables included system usability scores (System Usability Scale-Client [SUS-C]) at 3 months and baseline demographic information. Data from baseline and 3-month assessments were analyzed using linear regression models that adjusted for a set of baseline variables. RESULTS Of the 945 included participants, 644 (68.2%) were female, and the mean age was 38.96 years (IQR 38). bCBT was associated with higher composite WAI-SR-C scores compared to TAU (B=5.67, 95% CI 4.48-6.86). There was an inverse association between WAI-SR-C and PHQ-9 in bCBT (B=-0.12, 95% CI -0.17 to -0.06) and TAU (B=-0.06, 95% CI -0.11 to -0.02), in which as WAI-SR-C scores increased, PHQ-9 scores decreased. Finally, there was a significant interaction between SUS-C and WAI-SR-C with regard to an inverse association between higher WAI-SR-C scores and lower PHQ-9 scores in bCBT (b=-0.030, 95% CI -0.05 to -0.01; P=.005). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that bCBT may enhance the client working alliance when compared to evidence-based routine care for depression that services reported offering. The working alliance in bCBT was also associated with clinical improvements that appear to be enhanced by good program usability. Our findings add further weight to the view that the addition of internet-delivered CBT to face-to-face CBT may positively augment experiences of the working alliance. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02542891, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02542891; German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00006866, https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00006866; Netherlands Trials Register NTR4962, https://www.onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en/trial/25452; ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02389660, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02389660; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02361684, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02361684; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02449447, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02449447; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02410616, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02410616; ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN12388725, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12388725?q=ISRCTN12388725&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02796573, https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02796573. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s13063-016-1511-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmae Doukani
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matteo Quartagno
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Sera
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science and Applications "G. Parenti", University of Florence, Florance, Italy
| | - Caroline Free
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ritsuko Kakuma
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heleen Riper
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medial Centre, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annet Kleiboer
- Department Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arlinda Cerga-Pashoja
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anneke van Schaik
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medial Centre, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Academic Department for Depressive Disorders, Dutch Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cristina Botella
- Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas Berger
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Karine Chevreul
- Unité de Recherche Clinique in Health Economics, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Health Economics Research Unit, Inserm, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maria Matynia
- Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tobias Krieger
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Baptiste Hazo
- Unité de Recherche Clinique in Health Economics, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Health Economics Research Unit, Inserm, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Stasja Draisma
- Department on Aging, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos Institute), Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Titzler
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Naira Topooco
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kim Mathiasen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Centre for Digital Psychiatry, Mental Health Services of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kristofer Vernmark
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Antoine Urech
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anna Maj
- Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Gerhard Andersson
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Matthias Berking
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rosa María Baños
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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El-Haj-Mohamad R, Böttche M, Vöhringer M, Specht F, Stammel N, Nesterko Y, Knaevelsrud C, Wagner B. An internet-based cognitive behavioural intervention for adults with depression in Arabic-speaking countries: A randomized controlled trial. Stress Health 2024:e3432. [PMID: 38806256 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Internet-based interventions have proven to be effective for the treatment of depression in different samples, but evidence from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance and efficacy of an internet-based cognitive behavioural writing intervention for Arabic-speaking participants with depression living in the MENA region. A total of 259 participants (167 female, age in years: M = 25.58, SD = 6.39) with depressive symptoms indicative of clinical relevance were randomly allocated to a treatment group (TG; nTG = 128) or a waitlist control group (WG; nWG = 131). The TG received an internet-based intervention over a 6-week period. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms, and secondary outcomes were anxiety and quality of life (QoL). T-tests with change scores from pre- to post-treatment were used for data analyses. Intention-to-treat (ITT) as well as completer analyses were calculated. The ITT analysis revealed significant differences between the TG and WG in depression (T257 = -4.89, p < 0.001, d = 0.70) and QoL (T257 = 3.39, p < 0.001, d = 0.47). Significant differences regarding anxiety symptoms (T257 = 3.25, p < 0.05, d = 0.53) were identified for the completer sample. The general dropout rate was 39.9%. The results indicate the feasibility and efficacy of an internet-based cognitive behavioural writing intervention in adults from Arabic-speaking countries. The development and implementation of such interventions can be used to improve access to psychological help and adequate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan El-Haj-Mohamad
- Department for Transcultural and Traumatic Stress Studies, Center ÜBERLEBEN, Berlin, Germany
- Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Böttche
- Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Max Vöhringer
- Department for Transcultural and Traumatic Stress Studies, Center ÜBERLEBEN, Berlin, Germany
| | - Freya Specht
- Department for Transcultural and Traumatic Stress Studies, Center ÜBERLEBEN, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Stammel
- Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuriy Nesterko
- Department for Transcultural and Traumatic Stress Studies, Center ÜBERLEBEN, Berlin, Germany
- Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department for Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
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10
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Mak WWS, Tong ACY, Fu ACM, Leung IWY, Jung OHC, Watkins ER, Lui WWS. Efficacy of Internet-based rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based intervention with guided support in reducing risks of depression and anxiety: A randomized controlled trial. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2024; 16:696-722. [PMID: 38073271 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Rumination and worry are common risk factors of depression and anxiety. Internet-based transdiagnostic interventions targeting individuals with these specific risks may be an effective way to prevent depression and anxiety. This three-arm randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of Internet-based rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RFCBT), mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), and psychoeducation (EDU) control among 256 at-risk individuals. Participants' levels of rumination, worry, depressive, and anxiety symptoms were assessed at post-intervention (6 weeks), 3-month, and 9-month follow-ups. Linear mixed model analysis results showed similar levels of improvement in all outcomes across the three conditions. Changes in rumination differed comparing RFCBT and MBI, where a significant reduction in rumination was noted at a 3-month follow-up among participants in RFCBT, and no significant long-term effect among participants in MBI was noted at a 9-month follow-up. All three conditions showed similar reductions in risks and symptoms, implying that the two active interventions were not superior to EDU control. The high attrition at follow-ups suggested a need to exercise caution when interpreting the findings. Future studies should tease apart placebo effect and identify ways to improve adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie W S Mak
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Alan C Y Tong
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Amanda C M Fu
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ivy W Y Leung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Olivia H C Jung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | | | - Wacy W S Lui
- Center for Personal Growth and Crisis Intervention of the Corporate Clinical Psychology Services, Hospital Authority, Ma Tau Wai, Hong Kong
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11
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Stecher C, Cloonan S, Domino ME. The Economics of Treatment for Depression. Annu Rev Public Health 2024; 45:527-551. [PMID: 38100648 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-061022-040533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The global prevalence of depression has risen over the past three decades across all socioeconomic groups and geographic regions, with a particularly rapid increase in prevalence among adolescents (aged 12-17 years) in the United States. Depression imposes large health, economic, and societal costs, including reduced life span and quality of life, medical costs, and reduced educational attainment and workplace productivity. A wide range of treatment modalities for depression are available, but socioeconomic disparities in treatment access are driven by treatment costs, lack of culturally tailored options, stigma, and provider shortages, among other barriers. This review highlights the need for comparative research to better understand treatments' relative efficacy, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and potential heterogeneity in efficacy across socioeconomic groups and country and cultural contexts. To address the growing burden of depression, mental health policy could consider reducing restrictions on the supply of providers, implementing digital interventions, reducing stigma, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Stecher
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA;
- The Center for Health Information and Research, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Sara Cloonan
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Marisa Elena Domino
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA;
- The Center for Health Information and Research, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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12
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Zarski AC, Weisel KK, Berger T, Krieger T, Schaub MP, Berking M, Görlich D, Jacobi C, Ebert DD. Efficacy of an Internet- and Mobile-Based Intervention for Subclinical Anxiety and Depression (ICare Prevent) with Two Guidance Formats: Results from a Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2024; 93:155-168. [PMID: 38688243 PMCID: PMC11151970 DOI: 10.1159/000536149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Limited research exists on intervention efficacy for comorbid subclinical anxiety and depressive disorders, despite their common co-occurrence. Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) are promising to reach individuals facing subclinical symptoms. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a transdiagnostic and self-tailored IMI in reducing subclinical anxiety and depressive symptom severity with either individualized (IG-IMI) or automated (AG-IMI) guidance compared to a waitlist control group with care-as-usual access (WLC). METHODS Participants included 566 adults with subclinical anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 5) and/or depressive (CES-D ≥16) symptoms, who did not meet criteria for a full-syndrome depressive or anxiety disorder. In a three-arm randomized clinical trial, participants were randomized to a cognitive behavioral 7-session IMI plus booster session with IG-IMI (n = 186) or AG-IMI (n = 189) or WLC (n = 191). Primary outcomes included observer-rated anxiety (HAM-A) and depressive (QIDS) symptom severity 8 weeks after randomization assessed by blinded raters via telephone. Follow-up outcomes at 6 and 12 months are reported. RESULTS Symptom severity was significantly lower with small to medium effects in IG-IMI (anxiety: d = 0.45, depression: d = 0.43) and AG-IMI (anxiety: d = 0.31, depression: d = 0.32) compared to WLC. No significant differences emerged between guidance formats in primary outcomes. There was a significant effect in HAM-A after 6 months favoring AG-IMI. On average, participants completed 85.38% of IG-IMI and 77.38% of AG-IMI. CONCLUSIONS A transdiagnostic, self-tailored IMI can reduce subclinical anxiety and depressive symptom severity, but 12-month long-term effects were absent. Automated guidance holds promise for enhancing the scalability of IMIs in broad prevention initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Carlotta Zarski
- Division of eHealth in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kiona K. Weisel
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Krieger
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael P. Schaub
- Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction (ISGF), Associated to the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Berking
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dennis Görlich
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Corinna Jacobi
- Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - David D. Ebert
- Professorship Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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13
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Fogarty A, Seymour M, Savopoulos P, Talevski T, Ruthven C, Giallo R. The COVID-19 pandemic and Australian parents with young children at risk of interparental conflict. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2024; 42:338-352. [PMID: 35650517 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2022.2084055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges for families across the world, with those who have recently had a baby particularly vulnerable to increased stress Study Aim: The current study aimed to explore the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic of families who have recently had a baby in Melbourne, Australia. METHODS Interviews were conducted with sixteen parents participating in a family-based intervention during early parenthood and seven clinicians who delivered the program. RESULTS Parents and clinicians described impacts of the pandemic on parent and family functioning included mental health concerns, stress and irritability, feelings of isolation, and increased relationship tension. Parents discussed coping strategies used during the crisis, including activities with their family, connecting with others, trying to stay positive, and self-care activities such as spending time outdoors. Both parents and clinicians acknowledged the importance of mental health and parenting support during and following the pandemic, and for these services to be promoted and easily accessible. DISCUSSION The study highlights the mental health and parenting support needs of families during times of crisis and emphasises the importance of early intervention for families exhibiting poor communication and relationship tension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Fogarty
- Intergenerational Health Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Monique Seymour
- Intergenerational Health Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Priscilla Savopoulos
- Intergenerational Health Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tom Talevski
- Family Foundations, Merri Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Rebecca Giallo
- Intergenerational Health Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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Etzelmueller A, Heber E, Horvath H, Radkovsky A, Lehr D, Ebert DD. The Evaluation of the GET.ON Nationwide Web-Only Treatment Service for Depression- and Stress-Related Symptoms: Naturalistic Trial. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e42976. [PMID: 38300701 PMCID: PMC10870208 DOI: 10.2196/42976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND GET.ON (HelloBetter) treatment interventions have been shown to be efficacious in multiple randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the effectiveness of 2 GET.ON interventions, GET.ON Mood Enhancer and GET.ON Stress, in a national digital mental health service implemented across Germany. METHODS Following an initial web-based questionnaire, participants were allocated to either intervention based on their baseline symptom severity and personal choice and received a semistandardized guided, feedback-on-demand guided, or self-guided version of the treatment. Uncontrolled routine care data from 851 participants were analyzed using a pretest-posttest design. Half of the participants (461/851, 54.2%) were allocated to the stress intervention (189/461, 41% semistandardized; 240/461, 52% feedback on demand; and 32/461, 6.9% self-guided), and almost all participants in the mood intervention (349/352, 99.2%) received semistandardized guidance. RESULTS Results on depression-related symptom severity indicated a reduction in reported symptoms, with a large effect size of d=-0.92 (95% CI -1.21 to -0.63). Results on perceived stress and insomnia indicated a reduction in symptom severity, with large effect sizes of d=1.02 (95% CI -1.46 to -0.58) and d=-0.75 (95% CI -1.10 to -0.40), respectively. A small percentage of participants experienced deterioration in depression-related symptoms (11/289, 3.8%), perceived stress (6/296, 2%), and insomnia (5/252, 2%). After completing treatment, 51.9% (150/289) of participants showed a clinically reliable change in depression-related symptoms, whereas 20.4% (59/289) achieved a close to symptom-free status. Similar improvements were observed in perceived stress and insomnia severity. Guidance moderated the effectiveness of and adherence to the interventions in reducing depressive symptom severity. Effect sizes on depression-related symptom severity were d=-1.20 (95% CI -1.45 to -0.93) for the semistandardized group, d=-0.36 (95% CI -0.68 to -0.04) for the feedback-on-demand group, and d=-0.83 (95% CI -1.03 to -0.63) for the self-guided group. Furthermore, 47.6% (405/851) of the participants completed all modules of the intervention. Participant satisfaction was high across all patient groups and both interventions; 89.3% (242/271) of participants would recommend it to a friend in need of similar help. Limitations include the assignment to treatments and guidance formats based on symptom severity. Furthermore, part of the differences in symptom change between groups must be assumed to be due to this baseline difference in the measures. CONCLUSIONS Future digital health implementation and routine care research should focus on monitoring symptom deterioration and other negative effects, as well as possible predictors of deterioration and the investigation of individual patient trajectories. In conclusion, this study supports the effectiveness of tailored digital mental health services in routine care for depression- and stress-related symptoms in Germany. The results highlight the importance of guidance in delivering internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy interventions and provide further evidence for its potential delivered as web-only solutions for increasing access to and use of psychological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Etzelmueller
- Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Professorship Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- HelloBetter, GET.ON Institut für Online Gesundheitstrainings GmbH, Hamburg / Berlin, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Elena Heber
- HelloBetter, GET.ON Institut für Online Gesundheitstrainings GmbH, Hamburg / Berlin, Germany
| | - Hanne Horvath
- HelloBetter, GET.ON Institut für Online Gesundheitstrainings GmbH, Hamburg / Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Radkovsky
- Department of Psychology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Lehr
- Department of Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - David Daniel Ebert
- Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Professorship Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- HelloBetter, GET.ON Institut für Online Gesundheitstrainings GmbH, Hamburg / Berlin, Germany
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Gao L, Keller FM, Becker P, Dahmen A, Lippke S. Predictors of Dropout Among Psychosomatic Rehabilitation Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Secondary Analysis of a Longitudinal Study of Digital Training. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e43584. [PMID: 37903289 PMCID: PMC10683786 DOI: 10.2196/43584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High dropout rates are a common problem reported in web-based studies. Understanding which risk factors interrelate with dropping out from the studies provides the option to prevent dropout by tailoring effective strategies. OBJECTIVE This study aims to contribute an understanding of the predictors of web-based study dropout among psychosomatic rehabilitation patients. We investigated whether sociodemographics, voluntary interventions, physical and mental health, digital use for health and rehabilitation, and COVID-19 pandemic-related variables determine study dropout. METHODS Patients (N=2155) recruited from 4 psychosomatic rehabilitation clinics in Germany filled in a web-based questionnaire at T1, which was before their rehabilitation stay. Approximately half of the patients (1082/2155, 50.21%) dropped out at T2, which was after the rehabilitation stay, before and during which 3 voluntary digital trainings were provided to them. According to the number of trainings that the patients participated in, they were categorized into a comparison group or 1 of 3 intervention groups. Chi-square tests were performed to examine the differences between dropout patients and retained patients in terms of sociodemographic variables and to compare the dropout rate differences between the comparison and intervention groups. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess what factors were related to study dropout. RESULTS The comparison group had the highest dropout rate of 68.4% (173/253) compared with the intervention groups' dropout rates of 47.98% (749/1561), 50% (96/192), and 42.9% (64/149). Patients with a diagnosis of combined anxiety and depressive disorder had the highest dropout rate of 64% (47/74). Younger patients (those aged <50 y) and patients who were less educated were more likely to drop out of the study. Patients who used health-related apps and the internet less were more likely to drop out of the study. Patients who remained in their jobs and patients who were infected by COVID-19 were more likely to drop out of the study. CONCLUSIONS This study investigated the predictors of dropout in web-based studies. Different factors such as patient sociodemographics, physical and mental health, digital use, COVID-19 pandemic correlates, and study design can correlate with the dropout rate. For web-based studies with a focus on mental health, it is suggested to consider these possible dropout predictors and take appropriate steps to help patients with a high risk of dropping out overcome difficulties in completing the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Gao
- Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, Constructor University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Franziska Maria Keller
- Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, Constructor University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Alina Dahmen
- Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, Constructor University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Klinikum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg, Germany
| | - Sonia Lippke
- Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, Constructor University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Giannopoulou P, Vrahatis AG, Papalaskari MA, Vlamos P. The RODI mHealth app Insight: Machine-Learning-Driven Identification of Digital Indicators for Neurodegenerative Disorder Detection. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2985. [PMID: 37998477 PMCID: PMC10671821 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11222985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurocognitive Disorders (NCDs) pose a significant global health concern, and early detection is crucial for optimizing therapeutic outcomes. In parallel, mobile health apps (mHealth apps) have emerged as a promising avenue for assisting individuals with cognitive deficits. Under this perspective, we pioneered the development of the RODI mHealth app, a unique method for detecting aligned with the criteria for NCDs using a series of brief tasks. Utilizing the RODI app, we conducted a study from July to October 2022 involving 182 individuals with NCDs and healthy participants. The study aimed to assess performance differences between healthy older adults and NCD patients, identify significant performance disparities during the initial administration of the RODI app, and determine critical features for outcome prediction. Subsequently, the results underwent machine learning processes to unveil underlying patterns associated with NCDs. We prioritize the tasks within RODI based on their alignment with the criteria for NCDs, thus acting as key digital indicators for the disorder. We achieve this by employing an ensemble strategy that leverages the feature importance mechanism from three contemporary classification algorithms. Our analysis revealed that tasks related to visual working memory were the most significant in distinguishing between healthy individuals and those with an NCD. On the other hand, processes involving mental calculations, executive working memory, and recall were less influential in the detection process. Our study serves as a blueprint for future mHealth apps, offering a guide for enhancing the detection of digital indicators for disorders and related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Giannopoulou
- Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Informatics, Ionian University, 49100 Corfu, Greece; (P.G.); (A.G.V.)
| | - Aristidis G. Vrahatis
- Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Informatics, Ionian University, 49100 Corfu, Greece; (P.G.); (A.G.V.)
| | | | - Panagiotis Vlamos
- Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Informatics, Ionian University, 49100 Corfu, Greece; (P.G.); (A.G.V.)
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Bae H, Shin H, Ji HG, Kwon JS, Kim H, Hur JW. App-Based Interventions for Moderate to Severe Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2344120. [PMID: 37983028 PMCID: PMC10660171 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.44120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Mobile mental health applications (apps) for moderate to severe depression are proliferating, likely owing to their capacity to overcome the limitations of conventional psychotherapy, but research on the potential moderators of treatment efficacy is lacking. Objective To examine the treatment efficacy associated with mobile app interventions for moderate to severe depression and identify the potential moderators associated with better treatment outcomes. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched from their inception to January 22, 2023. Study Selection Only randomized clinical trials evaluating mobile app treatments in adults with moderate to severe depression that published their results in English were included in the analysis. Data Extraction and Synthesis Three independent researchers extracted and assessed relevant studies, their risk of bias, the characteristics of the population and study design, and the components of the intervention program following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guidelines. A fixed-effects model was used for data analysis, and exploratory post hoc meta-regression and subgroup analyses were also conducted. Data were analyzed from February 16 to March 25, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was changes in depression symptom severity from before to after treatment, measured by standardized depression assessment instruments. Secondary outcomes included study-, intervention-, and patient-level factors associated with app efficacy. Results Of 2128 studies identified, 13 studies evaluating 16 intervention apps with 1470 participants with moderate to severe depression were included in the analysis. The overall pooled effect size of mobile app interventions vs both active and inactive control groups was 0.50 (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.61). Interventions with in-app notifications were associated with significantly lower treatment outcomes (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.60) than interventions without (SMD, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.87; P = .02). In addition, app interventions delivered for less than 8 weeks were associated with a significantly greater effect size (SMD, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59-0.96) than interventions delivered for 8 weeks or longer (SMD, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.30-0.57; P = .004). Conclusions and Relevance In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the feasibility and efficacy of mobile app interventions were supported in treating moderate and severe depression, and practical implications were also provided for developing effective app-based interventions in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayoung Bae
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyemin Shin
- Graduate School of Culture Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Gil Ji
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Soo Kwon
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungsook Kim
- Graduate School of Public Policy, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Digital Healthcare Center, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Won Hur
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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18
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Canfield SM, Canada KE, Rolbiecki AJ, Petroski GF. Feasibility and acceptability of an online mental health intervention for pregnant women and their partners: a mixed method study with a pilot randomized control trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:739. [PMID: 37853333 PMCID: PMC10585730 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06031-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) have short- and long-term health and social consequences; online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions can reduce symptoms. Despite partner support being protective online interventions rarely target couples. This study builds on research on an existing CBT-based intervention, the Mothers and Babies Online Course (eMB), by testing its feasibility with prenatal couples. METHODS We conducted a pilot, randomized, controlled feasibility trial using a 1:1 parallel design. To be eligible, participant dyads were pregnant people (between 13-30 weeks gestation and with a score of 10 or greater on either the GAD-7 or PHQ-9 scale indicating elevated symptoms of anxiety or depression) and their cohabitating partners, living in Missouri, with access to the internet; both in the dyad consented to participate. Recruitment occurred via Facebook ads, flyers, and a snowball approach. The intervention group received eMB, and the control group received a list of community resources. We examined retention and adherence data extracted from eMB analytics and study databases. All participants were given depression and anxiety scales at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks to test preliminary efficacy; satisfaction and acceptability were measured at trial end (i.e., eight weeks) and via interview. RESULTS There were 441 people who responded to recruitment materials, 74 pregnant people were screened; 19 partners did not complete enrolment, and 25 dyads were ineligible. There were 15 dyads per group (N = 30) who enrolled; all completed the study. The survey response rate was 90% but partners required nearly twice the number of reminders. No participant completed all lessons. Mean depression and anxiety scores dropped over time for dyads in control (M = -1.99, -1.53) and intervention (M = -4.80, -1.99). Intervention pregnant people's anxiety significantly decreased (M = -4.05; 95% CI [0.82, 7.27]) at time two compared to control. Twelve pregnant people and four partners participated in post-intervention interviews and suggested improvements for eMB. CONCLUSION Online dyadic interventions can potentially reduce PMAD symptoms. However, to feasibly study eMB with couples, strategies to increase program adherence are necessary. Tailoring interventions to overtly include partners may be advantageous. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05867680, 19/05/2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Canfield
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Kelli E Canada
- School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Abigail J Rolbiecki
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and Division of Geriatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Gregory F Petroski
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics, and Medical Epidemiology, School of Medicine - University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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19
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Ruehlman L, Karoly P. A pilot test of Internet-delivered brief interactive training sessions for depression: Evaluating dropout, uptake, adherence, and outcome. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023; 71:2131-2139. [PMID: 34469262 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1961781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Uptake, adherence, and dropout rates for Internet-based programs for depression are in need of improvement. Excessive user burden (eg, heavy content, extended duration) may undermine engagement and precipitate dropout. To address this problem, an alternative format was proposed: Brief Interactive Training Sessions (BITS). BITS target a narrow behavioral health skill and require 3-4 hours to complete. A depression-focused version of BITS that provides training in cognitive distortion/restructuring was tested. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-two depressed college students were randomly assigned to BITS or to a wait-list. METHODS Students competed pre-and post-test (7 week) assessments of depression and cognitive distortions. RESULTS Uptake rate was 83%. Among study completers, adherence was 96%. The dropout rate did not improve. Compared to the control group, the experimental group reported a significant reduction in depression and in cognitive distortions. CONCLUSIONS The BITS format is a promising vehicle for improving uptake and adherence while achieving positive clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Karoly
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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20
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Shaygan M, Hosseini FA, Shemiran M, Hedayati A. The effect of mobile-based logotherapy on depression, suicidal ideation, and hopelessness in patients with major depressive disorder: a mixed-methods study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15828. [PMID: 37740006 PMCID: PMC10516998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43051-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the world. It is essential to study and use effective, available, and affordable psychotherapy methods along with drug therapy to manage the symptoms of this disease. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine the effect of mobile phone-based logotherapy on depression, suicidal ideation, and hopelessness in patients with major depressive disorder by using a mixed-methods approach. In the first phase of this mixed-methods study, 70 patients completed the quantitative phase (control group = 35, intervention group = 35). The intervention group received an 8-week mobile-based logotherapy program via WhatsApp (one 180-min module per week) combined with sertraline, while the control group received just sertraline plus education about pharmacotherapy. Data was collected before, immediately after the intervention, and 3 months later using the Beck depression inventory short form items (BDI-13), the Beck hopelessness scale (BHS), and the Beck scale for suicide ideation (BSSI). Then, a qualitative study on the intervention group was conducted to explain the findings of the quantitative phase. The repeated measure MANOVA revealed a significant interaction effect of time and group on the set of dependent variables (F(6,63) = 25.218, P < 0.001). Qualitative analysis confirmed the efficacy of sertraline plus mobile-based logotherapy on depression, suicidal ideation, and hopelessness in the intervention group. Three key themes extracted from the participants' experiences of mobile-based logotherapy were "efficient instruction", "user-friendly intervention" and "constructive change". Mobile-based logotherapy through WhatsApp was an effective psychotherapy method for decreasing depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder. It is suggested that educational, institutional, and technological infrastructure for providing and using mobile-based logotheapy for patients with major depressive disorder be considered in the mental health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Shaygan
- Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Fahimeh Alsadat Hosseini
- Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Marzieh Shemiran
- Student Research Committee, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Arvin Hedayati
- Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavior Science, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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21
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Beogo I, Ramdé J, Anne A, Gagnon MP, Sia D, Nguemeleu Tchouaket E. e-Mental Health Program to Prevent Psychological Distress Among French-Speaking International Students in a Linguistic-Cultural Minority Context (Ottawa, Alberta, and Quebec): Protocol for the Implementation and Evaluation of Psy-Web. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e47059. [PMID: 37725428 PMCID: PMC10548325 DOI: 10.2196/47059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, postsecondary institutions were most affected by the restrictions. Students, especially international students, have borne the brunt associated with in-person learning restrictions imposed by public health recommendations. Canada is among the top 3 countries hosting international students (ISs), including Francophone students in provinces such as Quebec and other anglophone regions. Academic restrictions were accompanied by other measures such as quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing, and travel ban, to cite some. This has had a wide-ranging impact on these ISs. The resulting psychological distress and burden may have a much greater impact on Francophone ISs in anglophone settings, many of whom had ordinarily limited access to active offers of care in French in addition to cultural barriers and low literacy of the health care system. In order to take advantage of the effectiveness of eHealth as a pertinent and promising avenue, our project intends to build a web-based application that is cost-effective, user-friendly, anonymous, and capable to prompt interactive interventions as a first-line resource for psychological distress. In fact, internet applications have been increasingly used for the management of psychological distresses, and internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the preferred methods to prevent or control them. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study are to (1) design, implement, and maintain Psy-Web for the psychological support of ISs and (2) analyze the results of the implementation of the Psy-Web platform, the additional resources solicited, and the results obtained. METHODS This interventional project will use a sequential mixed design in the exploratory phase (phase 1) including the construction of the Psy-Web platform. A quantitative prospective component (phase 2) will include the intervention content of the Psy-Web platform. In total, 105 ISs participants (study group) and 52 ISs (control group), based on a ratio of 1:2, will be considered. The control group participants include those who did not use the web platform. RESULTS The project is at the data collection stage (phase 1). Psy-Web will be built in accordance with the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) model with the perspective of boosting its robustness. As a first-line resource to prevent psychological distress and ultimately improve their academic performance, Psy-Web is an innovative opportunity for high education managers. The project involves a multisectoral and a multidisciplinary partnership. CONCLUSIONS The project will develop a promising web-based solution to prevent psychological distress. Ultimately, Psy-Web will be operable in multiple languages including French. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/47059.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idrissa Beogo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jean Ramdé
- Département des fondements et pratiques en éducation, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Abdoulaye Anne
- Département des fondements et pratiques en éducation, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | | | - Drissa Sia
- Département des sciences infirmières, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Saint-Jérôme, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, École de santé publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Eric Nguemeleu Tchouaket
- Département des sciences infirmières, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Saint-Jérôme, QC, Canada
- Département de gestion, d'évaluation et de politique de santé, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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22
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Ruan J, Chen S, Liang J, Ho FYY, Cheung T, Ho JYS, Chan WC, Chen H, Au DCW, Lee RWY, Mak YW, Yeung WF. Traditional Chinese medicine-based integrated health interventions for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Nurs 2023; 32:5632-5651. [PMID: 36946424 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based integrated health interventions have been used for depression, but pooled efficacy remains unknown. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of TCM-based integrated health interventions for relieving depression. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted on 17 databases from inception up to June 2022. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined an integrated health intervention based on TCM theory for depression were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the second version of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials, and the quality of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. RESULTS Eighteen RCTs with a total of 1448 depressed participants were included. Health care providers, mainly nurses (14 studies), implemented TCM-based integrated health interventions. The pooled results showed that TCM-based integrated health interventions had larger effects on reducing depressive symptoms (15 studies; standardised mean difference = -2.05; 95% CI: -2.74, -1.37; p < .00001) compared with usual care at posttreatment but showed no significant difference contrasted to cognitive behavioural therapy (two studies, p = .31). However, the overall evidence was low. CONCLUSIONS The meta-analysis results indicated that TCM-based integrated health interventions were effective in reducing depression. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the low quality of the included studies. Future RCTs with rigorous designs should be conducted to provide robust evidence of the efficacy of TCM-based integrated health interventions in treating depression. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE TCM-based integrated health interventions might be a potentially effective alternative for depression. Nurses could play an important role in designing and providing TCM-based integrated nursing interventions for patients with depression. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION This is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on data from previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayin Ruan
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Shucheng Chen
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jiagui Liang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- School of Nursing, The Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fiona Yan Yee Ho
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Teris Cheung
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Janice Yuen Shan Ho
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Wai Chi Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Haiyong Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Dennis Cheuk Wing Au
- Hong Kong Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Rebecca Wing Yan Lee
- Sin-Hua Herbalists' and Herb Dealers' Promotion Society Limited, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yim Wah Mak
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Wing Fai Yeung
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Lutsch AG, Baumeister H, Paganini S, Sander LB, Terhorst Y, Domhardt M. Mechanisms of change in digital cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in patients with chronic back pain: A mediation analysis of a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Behav Res Ther 2023; 168:104369. [PMID: 37531807 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While there is evolving knowledge on change processes of digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of depression, little is known about how these interventions produce therapeutic change in the comorbid constellation of chronic back pain (CBP). Here, we examined whether the effects of a digital intervention to treat depression in patients with CBP are mediated by three pain-related variables (i.e., pain self-efficacy, pain-related disability, pain intensity). METHODS This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial conducted in routine care at 82 orthopedic clinics across Germany. In total, 209 adults with CBP and diagnosed depression (SCID interview) were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 104) or treatment-as-usual (n = 105). Cross-lagged mediation models were estimated to investigate longitudinal mediation effects of putative mediators with depression symptom severity (PHQ-9) as primary outcome at post-treatment. RESULTS Longitudinal mediation effects were observed for pain self-efficacy (ß = -0.094, 95%-CI [-0.174, -0.014], p = 0.021) and pain-related disability (ß = -0.068, 95%-CI [-0.130, -0.001], p = 0.047). Furthermore, the hypothesized direction of the mediation effects was supported, reversed causation did not occur. Pain intensity did not reveal a mediation effect. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest a relevant role of pain self-efficacy and pain-related disability as change processes in the treatment of depression for patients with CBP in routine care. However, further research is needed to disclose potential reciprocal relationships of mediators, and to extend and specify our knowledge of the mechanisms of change in digital CBT for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne G Lutsch
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Sarah Paganini
- Department of Sport Psychology, Institute of Sports and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lasse B Sander
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yannik Terhorst
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Matthias Domhardt
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Germany.
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Schwartz K, Ganster FM, Tran US. Mindfulness-Based Mobile Apps and Their Impact on Well-Being in Nonclinical Populations: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e44638. [PMID: 37540550 PMCID: PMC10439468 DOI: 10.2196/44638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mindfulness-based mobile apps have become popular tools for enhancing well-being in today's fast-paced world. Their ability to reduce geographical, financial, and social barriers makes them a promising alternative to traditional interventions. OBJECTIVE As most available apps lack a theoretical framework, this review aimed to evaluate their effectiveness and assess their quality. We expected to find small sample sizes, high dropout rates, and small effect sizes in the included studies. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted using PsycInfo, PsycNet, PubMed, an institutional search engine (u:search), and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of mobile mindfulness apps on well-being in nonclinical samples were included. Study selection, risk of bias (using the version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials), and reporting quality (using selected CONSORT [Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials] statement criteria) assessments were performed by 2 authors independently and discussed until a consensus was reached. RESULTS The 28 included randomized controlled trials differed in well-being measures, apps, and intervention duration (7 to 56 days; median duration 28 days). A wide range of sample sizes (12 to 2282; median 161) and attrition rates (0% to 84.7%; median rate 23.4%) were observed. Most studies (19/28, 68%) reported positive effects on at least one aspect of well-being. The effects were presented using different metrics but were primarily small or small to medium in size. Overall risk of bias was mostly high. CONCLUSIONS The wide range of sample sizes, attrition rates, and intervention periods and the variation in well-being measures and mobile apps contributed to the limited comparability of the studies. Although most studies (16/28, 57%) reported small or small to medium effects for at least one well-being outcome, this review demonstrates that the generalizability of the results is limited. Further research is needed to obtain more consistent conclusions regarding the impact of mindfulness-based mobile apps on well-being in nonclinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Schwartz
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabienne Marie Ganster
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich S Tran
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Darcy A, Beaudette A, Chiauzzi E, Daniels J, Goodwin K, Mariano TY, Wicks P, Robinson A. Anatomy of a Woebot® (WB001): agent guided CBT for women with postpartum depression. Expert Rev Med Devices 2023; 20:1035-1049. [PMID: 37938145 DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2023.2280686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Postpartum depression (PPD) is common, persistent, and stigmatized. There are insufficient trained professionals to deliver appropriate screening, diagnosis, and treatment. AREAS COVERED WB001 is a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) based Agent-Guided Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (AGCBT) program for the treatment of PPD, for which Breakthrough Device Designation was recently granted by the US Food and Drug Administration. WB001 combines therapeutic alliance, human-centered design, machine learning techniques, and established principles from CBT and interpersonal therapy (IPT). We introduce AGCBT as a new model of service delivery, whilst describing Woebot, the agent technology that enables guidance through the replication of some elements of human relationships. The profile describes the device's design principles, enabling technology, risk handling, and efficacy data in PPD. EXPERT OPINION WB001 is a dynamic and personalized tool with which patients may establish a therapeutic bond. Woebot is designed to augment (rather than replace) human healthcare providers, unlocking the therapeutic potency associated with guidance, whilst retaining the scalability and agency that characterizes self-help approaches. WB001 has the potential to improve both the quality and the scalability of care through providing support to patients on waiting lists, in between clinical encounters, and enabling automation of measurement-based-care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Timothy Y Mariano
- Woebot Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
- RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Hanuka S, Olson EA, Admon R, Webb CA, Killgore WDS, Rauch SL, Rosso IM, Pizzagalli DA. Reduced anhedonia following internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression is mediated by enhanced reward circuit activation. Psychol Med 2023; 53:4345-4354. [PMID: 35713110 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722001106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric condition, yet many patients do not receive adequate treatment. Novel and highly scalable interventions such as internet-based cognitive-behavioral-therapy (iCBT) may help to address this treatment gap. Anhedonia, a hallmark symptom of MDD that refers to diminished interest and ability to experience pleasure, has been associated with reduced reactivity in a neural reward circuit that includes medial prefrontal and striatal brain regions. Whether iCBT can reduce anhedonia severity in MDD patients, and whether these therapeutic effects are accompanied by enhanced reward circuit reactivity has yet to be examined. METHODS Fifty-two MDD patients were randomly assigned to either 10-week iCBT (n = 26) or monitored attention control (MAC, n = 26) programs. All patients completed pre- and post-treatment assessments of anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale; SHAPS) and reward circuit reactivity [monetary incentive delay (MID) task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)]. Healthy control participants (n = 42) also underwent two fMRI scans while completing the MID task 10 weeks apart. RESULTS Both iCBT and MAC groups exhibited a reduction in anhedonia severity post-treatment. Nevertheless, only the iCBT group exhibited enhanced nucleus accumbens (Nacc) and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) activation and functional connectivity from pre- to post-treatment in response to reward feedback. Enhanced Nacc and sgACC activations were associated with reduced anhedonia severity following iCBT treatment, with enhanced Nacc activation also mediating the reduction in anhedonia severity post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that increased reward circuit reactivity may contribute to a reduction in anhedonia severity following iCBT treatment for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shir Hanuka
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Elizabeth A Olson
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roee Admon
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Christian A Webb
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Scott L Rauch
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabelle M Rosso
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diego A Pizzagalli
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Schladitz K, Luppa M, Riedel-Heller SG, Loebner M. Effectiveness of internet-based and mobile-based interventions for adults with overweight or obesity experiencing symptoms of depression: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067930. [PMID: 37339836 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Internet-based and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) provide innovative low-threshold and cost-effective prevention and self-management options for mental health problems complementary to standard treatment. The objective of this systematic review is to summarise the effectiveness and to critically evaluate studies on IMIs addressing comorbid depressive symptoms in adults with overweight or obesity. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The study authors will systematically search the databases MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase and Google Scholar (for grey literature) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of IMIs for individuals with overweight or obesity and comorbid depressive symptoms without restrictions on publication date (planned inception 1 June 2023 to 1 December 2023). Two reviewers will independently extract and evaluate data from studies eligible for inclusion by assessing quality of evidence and qualitatively synthesising results. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards and the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool in RCTs (RoB 2) will be applied. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval is not required as no primary data will be collected. Study results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentations on conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42023361771.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Schladitz
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
| | - Melanie Luppa
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
| | - Margrit Loebner
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
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Hornstein S, Zantvoort K, Lueken U, Funk B, Hilbert K. Personalization strategies in digital mental health interventions: a systematic review and conceptual framework for depressive symptoms. Front Digit Health 2023; 5:1170002. [PMID: 37283721 PMCID: PMC10239832 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2023.1170002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Personalization is a much-discussed approach to improve adherence and outcomes for Digital Mental Health interventions (DMHIs). Yet, major questions remain open, such as (1) what personalization is, (2) how prevalent it is in practice, and (3) what benefits it truly has. Methods We address this gap by performing a systematic literature review identifying all empirical studies on DMHIs targeting depressive symptoms in adults from 2015 to September 2022. The search in Pubmed, SCOPUS and Psycinfo led to the inclusion of 138 articles, describing 94 distinct DMHIs provided to an overall sample of approximately 24,300 individuals. Results Our investigation results in the conceptualization of personalization as purposefully designed variation between individuals in an intervention's therapeutic elements or its structure. We propose to further differentiate personalization by what is personalized (i.e., intervention content, content order, level of guidance or communication) and the underlying mechanism [i.e., user choice, provider choice, decision rules, and machine-learning (ML) based approaches]. Applying this concept, we identified personalization in 66% of the interventions for depressive symptoms, with personalized intervention content (32% of interventions) and communication with the user (30%) being particularly popular. Personalization via decision rules (48%) and user choice (36%) were the most used mechanisms, while the utilization of ML was rare (3%). Two-thirds of personalized interventions only tailored one dimension of the intervention. Discussion We conclude that future interventions could provide even more personalized experiences and especially benefit from using ML models. Finally, empirical evidence for personalization was scarce and inconclusive, making further evidence for the benefits of personalization highly needed. Systematic Review Registration Identifier: CRD42022357408.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvan Hornstein
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirsten Zantvoort
- Institute of Information Systems, Leuphana University, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Lueken
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Burkhardt Funk
- Institute of Information Systems, Leuphana University, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Kevin Hilbert
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Eseadi C, Ardi Z, Victor-Aigbodion V, Ndille R, Obasuyi HU, Ogbuabor SE. Intervention for job burnout reduction among a sample of Nigerian lecturers. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e33425. [PMID: 37058029 PMCID: PMC10101310 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000033425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the major issues facing Nigerian university lecturers is job burnout. In the current study, Nigerian university history lecturers were examined in respect of job burnout prior to and after an online psychological intervention that followed the rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) principles and practice. METHODS In this study, a group randomized controlled trial approach was used, and only 80 university history lecturers with high burnout levels were included. We had 40 history lecturers participating in an online intervention group and 40 history lecturers participating in the control group. A questionnaire - Oldenburg Burnout Inventory - was used to collect data about job burnout. RESULTS After the history lecturers underwent the online psychological intervention (online REBT), significant reductions in mean job burnout were recorded (F(1, 78) = 5756.11; P < .001). Findings show a statistically significant effects of time on burnout scores of history lecturers [F(2156) = 1323.69, P < .001, ω2 = 0.92]. There was also a significant group and time interaction effect on the participants' burnout scores [F(2156) = 1323.69, P < .001, ω2 = 0.91]. CONCLUSION University history lecturers can benefit from online psychological intervention that targets job burnout reduction. The current study paves way for future studies to validate the efficacy of online REBT intervention among other employees who struggle with burnout problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiedu Eseadi
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Zadrian Ardi
- Department of Guidance and Counseling, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, Indonesia
| | - Vera Victor-Aigbodion
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Roland Ndille
- Department of History, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
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Barceló-Soler A, García-Campayo J, Araya R, Doukani A, Gili M, García-Palacios A, Mayoral F, Montero-Marin J. Working alliance in low-intensity internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in primary care in Spain: A qualitative study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1024966. [PMID: 37063543 PMCID: PMC10090318 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1024966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Psychotherapies delivered via the Internet have been promoted as an alternative for improving access to psychological treatments. A conceptual working alliance model of blended (i.e., traditional face-to-face consultation combined with Internet-delivered psychotherapy) cognitive-behavioral therapy (b-CBT) for depression has been developed in the UK. However, little is known about how this important therapeutic process, namely the working alliance (WA), is developed and maintained in Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy without face-to-face consultation (i-CBT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the WA model of b-CBT in Spanish patients with depression receiving i-CBT. Methods Forty-one patients suffering from mild-moderate depression were interviewed to assess their experiences of an i-CBT program. Interviews were conducted with participants who received a self-guided application (n = 9), and low-intensity support (n = 10). Three group interviews were also conducted with patients who either did not start the program (n = 8) or did not complete it (n = 6), and with patients who did complete it (n = 8). Results Qualitative thematic content analysis was performed using the constant comparative method, which revealed four main themes: "bond," "goals," "task," and "usability heuristics," all consistent with the existing literature. However, a new subcategory emerged, called "anonymity," which may highlight the social stigma that mental illness still has in the Spanish context. Conclusion Results suggest that the development and maintenance of the WA through i-CBT could offer a better experience of the therapeutic process and improve the clinical impact. Clinical Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT01611818.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Barceló-Soler
- Navarra Medical Research Institute (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier García-Campayo
- Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Asmae Doukani
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Margalida Gili
- Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Azucena García-Palacios
- Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jesus Montero-Marin
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Teaching, Research and Innovation Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health—CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Edge D, Watkins ER, Limond J, Mugadza J. The efficacy of self-guided internet and mobile-based interventions for preventing anxiety and depression - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Behav Res Ther 2023; 164:104292. [PMID: 37003138 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent mental disorders which are associated with a considerable personal and economic burden. As treatment alone has a minimal impact on prevalence, there is now a growing focus on interventions which may help prevent anxiety and depression. Internet and mobile based interventions have been identified as a useful avenue for the delivery of preventative programmes due to their scalability and accessibility. The efficacy of interventions that do not require additional support from a trained professional (self-guided) in this capacity is yet to be explored. METHOD A systematic search was conducted on the Cochrane Library, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, OVID, MEDline, PsycEXTRA and SCOPUS databases. Studies were selected according to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome was evaluating the effect of self-guided internet and mobile based interventions on incidence of anxiety and depression. The secondary outcome was effect on symptom severity. RESULTS After identifying and removing duplicates, 3211 studies were screened, 32 of which were eligible for inclusion in the final analysis. Nine studies also reported incidence data (depression = 7, anxiety = 2). The overall Risk Ratios for incidence of anxiety and depression were 0.86 (95% CI [0.28, 2.66], p = .79) and 0.67 (95% CI [0.48, 0.93], p = .02) respectively. Analysis for 27 studies reporting severity of depressive symptoms revealed a significant posttreatment standardised mean difference of -0.27 (95% CI [ -0.37, -0.17], p < .001) for self-guided intervention groups relative to controls. A similar result was observed for 29 studies reporting severity of anxiety symptoms with a standardised mean difference of -0.21 (95% CI [-0.31, -0.10], p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Self-guided internet and mobile based interventions appear to be effective at preventing incidence of depression, though further examination of the data suggests that generalisability of this finding may be limited. While self-guided interventions also appear effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, their ability to prevent incidence of anxiety is less clear. A heavy reliance on symptom measures in the data analysed suggests future research could benefit from prioritising the use of standardised diagnostic measuring tools to assess incidence. Future systematic reviews should aim to include more data from grey literature and reduce the impact of study heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Edge
- Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
| | - Edward R Watkins
- Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Limond
- Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Mugadza
- Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
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Biagianti B, Foti G, Di Liberto A, Bressi C, Brambilla P. CBT-informed psychological interventions for adult patients with anxiety and depression symptoms: A narrative review of digital treatment options. J Affect Disord 2023; 325:682-694. [PMID: 36690081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Across a range of age, educational and clinical characteristics, adults experiencing depression and anxiety already use digital technology to manage their symptoms. Although several reviews and meta-analyses indicated feasibility and efficacy for adults with depression and anxiety, digital treatments are poorly accessed and disseminated. This review illustrates potentials and limitations of interventions that specifically leveraged unique features of digital technology and were grounded in the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). METHODS This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. An electronic database search was conducted in October 2021. Peer-reviewed, English-language studies were included if i) they reported data from RCTs for adults aged 18+ who engaged with CBT-informed digital interventions targeting primarily depression and anxiety; ii) they used at least PHQ-9 or GAD-7 as standardized and validated assessment self-report measures for depression and anxiety. RESULTS Findings from 35 RCTs examining 33 interventions (25 internet-based, 6 mobile-based, a2 mobile/web) are discussed. The quality of the evidence differed widely as many small-scale RCTs reported only short-term feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Effects of CBT-informed digital interventions were substantially larger when compared to waitlist than active control conditions. Greater therapeutic benefits were observed for interventions that offered clinical assistance or were used in combination with other treatments. CONCLUSIONS CBT-informed digital interventions have accumulated enough scientific evidence to be positioned today as: i) a low-intensity tool for those with subclinical levels of symptoms; ii) a first step in a stepped-care approach to service delivery iii) a low-cost, easily accessible option for targeted preventive programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Biagianti
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
| | | | | | - Cinzia Bressi
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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Wolff LL, Rapp M, Mocek A. [Critical Evaluation of Permanently Listed Psychosocial Digital Health Applications into the Directory for Reimbursable Digital Health Applications of the BfArM]. PSYCHIATRISCHE PRAXIS 2023; 50:67-79. [PMID: 36170874 DOI: 10.1055/a-1875-3635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Digital health applications (DiGA) delivered as psychosocial therapeutic interventions entail a huge potential through their proven medical benefit or patient-relevant structure and process improvements. Their usage as first-line or concomitant therapy is refunded by the German health insurances. Therefore, the digital health applications have to pass a complex evidence process as requested by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Services. The present article aimed at critically evaluating the available evidence of the permanently registered DiGA using the Critically Appraised Topic method. In conclusion, all studies fulfil at least two thirds of the evaluation criteria, implying that the overall evidence is of sufficient quality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Rapp
- Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Potsdam
| | - Anja Mocek
- IGES Institut GmbH, Department of Health Services Research
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Tuna B, Avci OH. Qualitative analysis of university counselors' online counseling experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 42:8489-8503. [PMID: 37193098 PMCID: PMC9969378 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04358-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to reflect on counselors' experiences and the adaptation processes in university counseling centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, 15 counselors and psychologists working at different counseling centers were reached and interviewed. Thematic analysis showed that participants had to adapt to changes brought by the pandemic to continue their services. The adaptation of counseling centers to online practices showed differences according to administrative decisions and technical capacities. As a result of the urgent need to continue providing psychological help, participants moved to online practices, which caused professional and social life changes. Participant attitudes to online counseling were mainly positive. Since students had to move back to their family homes during the pandemic, limited confidentiality was the main problem aside from technological glitches in online sessions. Counselors encountered personal and professional challenges as a result of the ongoing counseling sessions and listed the self-care activities they used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burak Tuna
- University Counseling Center, Kadir Has University, Cibali Campus, 34083 Cibali/Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Haskan Avci
- Educational Sciences, Division of Counseling and Guidance, Hacettepe University, 06800 Beytepe/Ankara, Turkey
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Freund J, Ebert DD, Thielecke J, Braun L, Baumeister H, Berking M, Titzler I. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to evaluate a nationwide depression prevention project (ImplementIT) from the perspective of health care workers and implementers: Results on the implementation of digital interventions for farmers. Front Digit Health 2023; 4:1083143. [PMID: 36761450 PMCID: PMC9907445 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.1083143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Depression has a significant impact on individuals and society, which is why preventive measures are important. Farmers represent an occupational group exposed to many risk factors for depression. The potential of guided, tailored internet-based interventions and a personalized telephone coaching is evaluated in a German project of the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG). While user outcomes are promising, not much is known about actual routine care use and implementation of the two digital health interventions. This study evaluates the implementation from the perspective of social insurance employees to understand determinants influencing the uptake and implementation of digital interventions to prevent depression in farmers. Methods The data collection and analysis are based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Health care workers (n = 86) and implementers (n = 7) completed online surveys and/or participated in focus groups. The surveys consisted of validated questionnaires used in implementation research, adapted items from the CFIR guide or from other CFIR studies. In addition, we used reporting data to map implementation based on selected CFIR constructs. Results Within the five CFIR dimensions, many facilitating factors emerged in relation to intervention characteristics (e.g., relative advantage compared to existing services, evidence and quality) and the inner setting of the SVLFG (e.g., tension for change, compatibility with values and existing working processes). In addition, barriers to implementation were identified in relation to the outer setting (patient needs and resources), inner setting (e.g., available resources, access to knowledge and information) and characteristics of individuals (e.g., self-efficacy). With regard to the implementation process, facilitating factors (formal implementation leaders) as well as hindering factors (reflecting and evaluating) were identified. Discussion The findings shed light on the implementation of two digital prevention services in an agricultural setting. While both offerings seem to be widely accepted by health care workers, the results also point to revealed barriers and contribute to recommendations for further service implementation. For instance, special attention should be given to "patient needs and resources" by raising awareness of mental health issues among the target population as well as barriers regarding the inner setting. Clinical Trial Registration German Clinical Trial Registration: [DRKS00017078]. Registered on 18.04.2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Freund
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences, TU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Janika Thielecke
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences, TU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Braun
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Matthias Berking
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ingrid Titzler
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Schiller CE, Prim J, Bauer AE, Lux L, Lundegard LC, Kang M, Hellberg S, Thompson K, Webber T, Teklezghi A, Pettee N, Gaffney K, Hodgins G, Rahman F, Steinsiek JN, Modi A, Gaynes BN. Efficacy of Virtual Care for Depressive Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JMIR Ment Health 2023; 10:e38955. [PMID: 36622747 PMCID: PMC9871881 DOI: 10.2196/38955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has created an epidemic of distress-related mental disorders such as depression, while simultaneously necessitating a shift to virtual domains of mental health care; yet, the evidence to support the use of virtual interventions is unclear. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of virtual interventions for depressive disorders by addressing three key questions: (1) Does virtual intervention provide better outcomes than no treatment or other control conditions (ie, waitlist, treatment as usual [TAU], or attention control)? (2) Does in-person intervention provide better outcomes than virtual intervention? (3) Does one type of virtual intervention provide better outcomes than another? METHODS We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases for trials published from January 1, 2010, to October 30, 2021. We included randomized controlled trials of adults with depressive disorders that tested a virtual intervention and used a validated depression measure. Primary outcomes were defined as remission (ie, no longer meeting the clinical cutoff for depression), response (ie, a clinically significant reduction in depressive symptoms), and depression severity at posttreatment. Two researchers independently selected studies and extracted data using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Risk of bias was evaluated based on Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality guidelines. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for binary outcomes and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for continuous outcomes. RESULTS We identified 3797 references, 24 of which were eligible. Compared with waitlist, virtual intervention had higher odds of remission (OR 10.30, 95% CI 5.70-18.60; N=619 patients) and lower posttreatment symptom severity (SMD 0.81, 95% CI 0.52-1.10; N=1071). Compared with TAU and virtual attention control conditions, virtual intervention had higher odds of remission (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.10-3.35; N=512) and lower posttreatment symptom severity (SMD 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.42; N=573). In-person intervention outcomes were not significantly different from virtual intervention outcomes (eg, remission OR 0.84, CI 0.51-1.37; N=789). No eligible studies directly compared one active virtual intervention to another. CONCLUSIONS Virtual interventions were efficacious compared with control conditions, including waitlist control, TAU, and attention control. Although the number of studies was relatively small, the strength of evidence was moderate that in-person interventions did not yield significantly better outcomes than virtual interventions for depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Edler Schiller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Julianna Prim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Anna E Bauer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Linda Lux
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Laura Claire Lundegard
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Michelle Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Samantha Hellberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Katherine Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Theresa Webber
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Adonay Teklezghi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Noah Pettee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Katherine Gaffney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Gabrielle Hodgins
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Fariha Rahman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - J Nikki Steinsiek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Anita Modi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Bradley N Gaynes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Mavragani A, Miller L. Assessment and Disruption of Ruminative Episodes to Enhance Mobile Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions in Clinical Depression: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e37270. [PMID: 36602841 PMCID: PMC9853337 DOI: 10.2196/37270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) is "designed to address the dynamically changing needs of individuals via the provision of the type or amount of support needed, at the right time when needed." If and how rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RFCBT), the gold standard, blocks emotional cascades underlying rumination is unclear. Furthermore, cognitive behavioral therapy has been successfully used as a mobile variant, but RFCBT has not been adapted for a mobile variant (mobile RFCBT [MRFCBT]) or for a JITAI variant. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to pilot-test a fully automated JITAI leveraging RFCBT and ways to identify and block cascading depressive rumination. METHODS Patients in therapy for clinical depression were recruited for a randomized controlled trial (RCT). After consenting to be part of the RCT, they were randomly assigned to either of the 2 mobile versions of the RFCBT conditions personalized to the individual's rumination timing patterns (JITAI-MRFCBT) or a no-treatment control condition through a double-blind procedure. Although the initial design was to have a 3-armed trial with 2 JITAI conditions (a JITAI and a narrative JITAI condition), we later opted to collapse those 2 conditions into 1 JITAI condition because of the low number of participants. All participants were recruited and participated through their smartphones, receiving 5 SMS text message reminders on each of the 35 days to self-report their rumination-related symptoms (eg, rumination episodes and duration). In the JITAI-MRFCBT condition, they also received treatment materials. The first 7 days provided a rumination baseline, and the last 7 days provided a postintervention rumination value. In total, 42% (25/59) of volunteers were eligible and provided their phone numbers, 20% (5/25) of whom never replied to the SMS text message reminding them to start the RCT. A total of 90% (18/20) of volunteers completed it (ie, finishing, as prespecified, 80% of the questionnaires and training tasks) and, therefore, were included in the analysis. RESULTS Using independent 2-tailed t tests with bootstrapping, results showed that participants in the JITAI-MRFCBT condition, compared with those in the control condition, reported a greater reduction in counts of rumination episodes (mean -25.28, SD 14.50 vs mean 1.44, SD 4.12, P<.001) and greater reduced average time (minutes) spent in rumination (mean -21.53, SD 17.6 vs mean 1.47, SD 1.5; P=.04). Results also suggest that, compared with those in the control group, those in treatment reduced ruminative carryover from one episode to the next. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that JITAI-MRFCBT may reduce negative rumination by providing RFCBT just in time following rumination, thereby blocking the next rumination episode using the same trigger. This study supports a subsequent, full-scale JITAI and the importance of leveraging mobile smartphone technology with MRFCBT to curb depressive symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04554706; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04554706.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lynn Miller
- University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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38
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Canfield SM, Canada KE. Systematic Review of Online Interventions to Reduce Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Underserved Populations. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2023; 37:14-26. [PMID: 36707743 DOI: 10.1097/jpn.0000000000000658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Online health interventions increase access to care, are acceptable to end users and effective for treating mental and physical health disorders. However, less is known about interventions to prevent and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). This review synthesizes existing research on PMAD prevention and treatment by exploring the treatment modalities and efficacy of online interventions and examining the inclusion of underserved populations in PMAD research. METHODS Using PRISMA guidelines, authors conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2008 and 2018 on online interventions aimed to prevent or treat PMADs. The authors also assessed quality. Eligible articles included perinatal women participating in preventive studies or those aimed to reduce symptoms of PMADs and utilized a Web-based, Internet, or smartphone technology requiring an online component. This study excluded telephone-based interventions that required one-on-one conversations or individualized, text-based responses without a Web-based aspect. RESULTS The initial search yielded 511 articles, and the final analysis included 23 articles reporting on 22 interventions. Most studies used an experimental design. However, no study achieved an excellent or good quality rating. Psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) were most common. Several interventions using CBT strategies significantly decreased depression or anxiety. Four studies recruited and enrolled mainly people identifying as low-income or of a racial or ethnic minority group. Attrition was generally high across studies. DISCUSSION More research using rigorous study designs to test PMAD interventions across all perinatal times is needed. Future research needs to engage diverse populations purposefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Canfield
- Family and Community Medicine (Dr Canfield), Center for Health Policy (Dr Canfield), and School of Social Work (Dr Canada), University of Missouri-Columbia
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39
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De Veirman AEM, Thewissen V, Spruijt MG, Bolman CAW. Factors Associated With Intention and Use of e-Mental Health by Mental Health Counselors in General Practices: Web-Based Survey. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e34754. [PMID: 36538357 PMCID: PMC9812270 DOI: 10.2196/34754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental health care counselors have a high intention to use e-mental health (EMH), whereas actual use is limited. Facilitating future use requires insight into underlying factors as well as eligibility criteria that mental health care counselors use in their decision to apply EMH. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to unfold the intention and underlying reasons for mental health counselors to use EMH and to unveil the criteria they use to estimate patient eligibility for EMH. The theoretical framework was based on the reasoned action approach model, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, and the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovation model. METHODS To empirically validate our theoretical model, a web-based survey was conducted among mental health care counselors (n=132). To unveil the eligibility criteria, participants were asked to rank their reasons for considering EMH suitable or unsuitable for a patient. RESULTS The mean intention to use EMH was positive (mean 4.04, SD 0.64). The mean use of EMH before the COVID-19 pandemic was 38% (mean 0.38, SD 0.22), and it was 49% (mean 0.49, SD 0.25) during the pandemic. In total, 57% of the patient population was considered eligible for EMH. Usefulness and benefits (β=.440; P<.001), Task perception (β=.306; P=.001), and Accessibility (β=.140; P=.02) explained the intention to use EMH (F3,131=54.151; P<.001; R2=0.559). In turn, intention explained patient eligibility (F1,130=34.716; P<.001; R2=0.211), whereas intention and patient eligibility explained EMH use (F2,129=41.047; P<.001; R2=0.389). Patient eligibility partially mediated the relationship between intention to use EMH and EMH use, with a larger direct effect (c'=0.116; P<.001) than indirect effect (c=0.065, 95% CI 0.035-0.099; P<.001). Mental health counselors assessed patients' eligibility for EMH mainly through the availability of computers and the internet and patient motivation. CONCLUSIONS To stimulate the use of EMH, intention and patient eligibility need to be influenced. Intention, in turn, can be enhanced by addressing the perceived usefulness and benefits of EMH, perceived accessibility, and task perception. Access to a computer and patients' motivation to use EMH are important in facilitating patient eligibility. To cause an impact with EMH in general practice, mental health counselors need to be convinced of the benefits of EMH and transfer this enthusiasm to the patient. It is recommended to involve mental health counselors in the development of EMH to increase the (perceived) added value and use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann E M De Veirman
- Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, Netherlands
| | - Viviane Thewissen
- Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, Netherlands
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Self-compassion predicted joint trajectories of depression and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A five-wave longitudinal study on Chinese college students. J Affect Disord 2022; 319:589-597. [PMID: 36155236 PMCID: PMC9499990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The long-term protective effect of self-compassion on mental health remained unclear in the pandemic context. This study aimed to investigate the trajectories of depression and anxiety symptoms and the role of self-compassion during the pandemic. METHODS In this one-year five-wave longitudinal study (retested every three months from February 2020 to February 2021), 494 Chinese college students completed the study through online questionnaires and provided information on depression and anxiety symptoms, self-compassion, and sociodemographic variables. Independent and joint trajectories of depression and anxiety symptoms were explored by growth mixture models. Predictive effects of self-compassion on trajectories were examined by logistic regression models. RESULTS Four and three heterogeneous latent trajectories were identified for depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Three distinct joint trajectories of depression and anxiety were determined: low symptoms group (54.0 %), mild symptoms group (34.4 %), and risk group (11.5 %). Participants with higher levels of self-compassion were more likely to follow the low symptoms trajectory of depression and anxiety symptoms (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Group heterogeneity existed in the trajectories of depression and anxiety symptoms. Improving the levels of self-compassion would help to prevent and alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms. Programs based on self-compassion are encouraged to cope with the mental health challenges in the pandemic context.
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41
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Tang Y, Gierc M, Lam RW, Liu S, Faulkner G. The Effectiveness of Internet-Guided Self-help Interventions to Promote Physical Activity Among Individuals With Depression: Systematic Review. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e38049. [PMID: 36508243 PMCID: PMC9793299 DOI: 10.2196/38049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Physical activity (PA) interventions have been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms. However, not all patients have access to PA programing tailored for depression. Internet-guided self-help (IGSH) interventions may be an effective option for increasing PA among people with depression who cannot or prefer not to access supervised exercise treatment. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IGSH interventions in increasing PA and alleviating depressive symptoms in people with depression. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted for randomized controlled trials and quasiexperimental studies using 9 electronic databases. The review was registered in PROSPERO (2020 CRD42020221713). RESULTS A total of 4 randomized controlled trials (430 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 3 were web-based and 1 was app-based. Three studies found IGSH interventions to have medium to large effects on decreasing depressive symptoms but not on increasing PA compared with waitlist or usual care. One study showed increased self-reported PA but no significant difference in depressive symptoms in the intervention group compared with the control group. Goal setting was the most common behavior change technique used in the interventions. Dropout rates within the intervention groups were relatively low (0%-19%). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that IGSH PA interventions are feasible and have the potential to reduce depressive symptoms in people with depression. More well-designed and tailored interventions with different combinations of behavior change techniques, particularly those targeting the emotion domain, are needed to assess the overall effectiveness and feasibility of using IGSH interventions to increase PA among people with depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42020221713; https://tinyurl.com/ysaua5bu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiling Tang
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Madelaine Gierc
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Raymond W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sam Liu
- School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education, University of Victoria, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Guy Faulkner
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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42
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Patel K, Moukhtarian TR, Russell S, Daly G, Walasek L, Tang NKY, Toro C, Meyer C. Digital cognitive behavioural therapy intervention in the workplace: study protocol for a feasibility randomised waitlist-controlled trial to improve employee mental well-being, engagement and productivity. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060545. [PMID: 36600345 PMCID: PMC9743318 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION One in six workers experience some form of mental health problems at work costing the UK economy an estimated £70 billion/year. Digital interventions provide low cost and easily scalable delivery methods to implement psychological interventions in the workplace. This trial tests the feasibility of implementing a self-guided 8-week digital cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for subthreshold to clinical depression and/or anxiety versus waitlist control (ie, life as usual) in the workplace. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Feasibility of implementation will be tested using a mixed-methods evaluation of the two-arm randomised waitlist-control trial. Evaluation will include examination of organisational buy-in, and the engagement of employees through the trial indicated by the completion of outcome measures. In addition, we also explore how participants use the platform, the appropriateness of the analysis both with reference to the outcome measures and linear modelling. Finally, we examine the acceptability of the intervention based on participants experiences using qualitative interviews. Assessments take place at baseline (T0), at 8 weeks post-treatment (T1), at short-term follow-up 4 weeks post-treatment (T2) and long-term follow-ups (6 and 12 months after-end of treatment). We will recruit from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021 for employees and self-employed workers with depression and anxiety symptoms (subclinical and clinical levels) who are not seeking or engaged in treatment at the time of the trial. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Full approval was given by the University of Warwick Biomedical and Research Ethics Committee (BSREC 45/20-21). The current protocol version is 2.8 (August 2021). Publication of results in peer-reviewed journals will inform the scientific, clinical and business communities. We will disseminate results through webinars, conferences, newsletter as well as a lay summary of results on the study website (mhpp.me). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN31161020.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Talar Rita Moukhtarian
- Warwick Medical School, Division of Health Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sean Russell
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Guy Daly
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | | | | | - Carla Toro
- Warwick Medical School, Division of Health Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Caroline Meyer
- Warwick Medical School, Division of Health Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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Knox J, Morgan P, Kay-Lambkin F, Wilson J, Wallis K, Mallise C, Barclay B, Young M. Male involvement in randomised trials testing psychotherapy or behavioural interventions for depression: a scoping review. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-16. [PMID: 36531196 PMCID: PMC9735062 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04017-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder in men is half that of women, yet depression affects approximately 109 million men worldwide. Alarmingly, men account for three quarters of suicides in Western countries but are unlikely to seek help for mental health concerns. It is possible that existing mental health treatments are not engaging or accessible to men. The aim of this review was to quantify the number of men involved in randomised trials of psychotherapy or lifestyle behaviour change targeting depression. Results found men represented 26% of participants in 110 eligible articles compared to 73% women. Men's representation was low across all intervention characteristics (e.g., delivery mode). No studies used a completely male sample, compared to 19 studies targeting women only. Men are substantially underrepresented in research trials targeting depression. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-04017-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Knox
- School of Psychological Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia
| | - Philip Morgan
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Frances Kay-Lambkin
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Jessica Wilson
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Kimberley Wallis
- School of Psychological Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia
| | - Carly Mallise
- School of Psychological Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia
| | - Briana Barclay
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Myles Young
- School of Psychological Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
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Braun L, Freund J, Thielecke J, Baumeister H, Ebert DD, Titzler I. Barriers to and Facilitators of Engaging With and Adhering to Guided Internet-Based Interventions for Depression Prevention and Reduction of Pain-Related Disability in Green Professions: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e39122. [PMID: 36350684 PMCID: PMC9685507 DOI: 10.2196/39122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internet-based interventions (IBIs) are effective for the prevention and treatment of mental disorders and are valuable additions for improving routine care. However, the uptake of and adherence to IBIs are often limited. To increase the actual use of IBIs, it is important to identify factors for engaging with and adhering to IBIs. OBJECTIVE We qualitatively evaluated barriers and facilitators regarding a portfolio of guided IBIs in green professions (farmers, gardeners, and foresters). METHODS Interview participants were selected from 2 randomized controlled trials for either the prevention of depression (Prevention of Depression in Agriculturists [PROD-A]) or the reduction of pain interference (Preventive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain in Agriculturists [PACT-A]) in green professions. The intervention group in PROD-A (N=180) participated in an IBI program, receiving access to 1 of 6 symptom-tailored IBIs. The intervention group in PACT-A (N=44) received access to an IBI for chronic pain. Overall, 41 semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Barriers and facilitators were identified via inductive qualitative content analysis, with 2 independent coders reaching almost perfect intercoder reliability (Cohen κ=0.92). A quantitative follow-up survey (30/41, 73%) was conducted to validate the results. Subgroup analyses were performed based on intervention characteristics. RESULTS We identified 42 barriers and 26 facilitators, which we assigned to 4 superordinate categories related to the intervention (20 barriers; 17 facilitators), work (4 barriers; 1 facilitator), individual (13 barriers; 8 facilitators), and technical (5 barriers; 0 facilitators) aspects. Key barriers (identified by at least 50% of the interviewees) were time-consuming work life (29/40, 73%) and time-consuming private life (23/40, 58%). Similarly, the most frequently identified facilitators included presence of motivation, curiosity, interest and perseverance (30/40, 75%), flexible time management at work (25/40, 63%), and support from family and friends (20/40, 50%). Although agreement with barriers in the quantitative follow-up survey was rather low (mean 24%, SD 11%), agreement with facilitators was substantially higher (mean 80%, SD 13%). Differences in agreement rates were found particularly between intervention completers and noncompleters. Completers agreed significantly more often that perceived IBI success; being motivated, curious, interested, and perseverant; and having a persisting level of psychological strain have been facilitating. Noncompleters agreed more often with experiencing the e-coach contact as insufficient and technical problems as hindering for intervention completion. CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, strategies such as customization of modules for more flexible and adaptive use; video chat options with the e-coach; options to facilitate social support by family, friends, or other participants; or using prompts to facilitate training completion can be derived. These approaches could be evaluated in further quantitative research designs in terms of their potential to enhance intervention use in this occupational group. TRIAL REGISTRATION German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00014000, https://tinyurl.com/3bukfr48; German Clinical Trials Register DRKS0001461, https://tinyurl.com/ebsn4sns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Braun
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johanna Freund
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Professorship for Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Janika Thielecke
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Professorship for Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - David Daniel Ebert
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Professorship for Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingrid Titzler
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Børtveit L, Dechsling A, Sütterlin S, Nordgreen T, Nordahl-Hansen A. Guided Internet-Delivered Treatment for Depression: Scoping Review. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e37342. [PMID: 36194467 PMCID: PMC9579933 DOI: 10.2196/37342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on guided internet-delivered treatment have demonstrated promising results for patients with depressive disorder. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to provide an overview of this research area and identify potential gaps in the research. METHODS In this scoping review, web-based databases were used to identify research papers published between 2010 and 2022 where guided internet-delivered treatment was administered to participants with depressive disorders, a standardized rating scale of depressive symptoms was used as the primary outcome measure, and the treatment was compared with a control condition. RESULTS A total of 111 studies were included, and an overview of the studies was provided. Several gaps in the research were identified regarding the design of the studies, treatments delivered, participant representation, and treatment completion. CONCLUSIONS This review provides a comprehensive overview of the research area, and several research gaps were identified. The use of other designs and active control conditions is recommended. Future studies should provide access to treatment manuals, and more replications should be conducted. Researchers should aim to include underrepresented populations and provide reports of comorbidities. Definitions of adequate dosage, reports of completion rates, and reasons for treatment dropout are recommended for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Børtveit
- Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organisation, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders Dechsling
- Department of Education, ICT, and Learning, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway
| | - Stefan Sütterlin
- Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organisation, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway.,Faculty of Computer Science, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Sigmaringen, Germany
| | - Tine Nordgreen
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Departement of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders Nordahl-Hansen
- Department of Education, ICT, and Learning, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway
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Kunzler AM, Chmitorz A, Röthke N, Staginnus M, Schäfer SK, Stoffers-Winterling J, Lieb K. Interventions to foster resilience in nursing staff: A systematic review and meta-analyses of pre-pandemic evidence. Int J Nurs Stud 2022; 134:104312. [PMID: 35853312 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the chronic work-related stressors experienced by nursing staff in today's healthcare systems, international evidence suggests an elevated risk of developing stress-related mental symptoms. Therefore, identifying effective methods to foster resilience (i.e., maintenance or fast recovery of mental health despite stressor exposure) seems crucial. To date, little is known about the efficacy of these interventions in nurses. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed at summarizing the evidence on the pre-pandemic efficacy of psychological interventions to foster resilience, to improve mental symptoms and well-being as well as to promote resilience factors in nurses. Based on training programs with evidence for positive effects on resilience and mental health in meta-analyses, we aimed at identifying important and helpful intervention techniques. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analyses based on a Cochrane review on pre-pandemic resilience interventions in healthcare professionals. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and 11 other databases were searched until June 2020 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials. Trial registers, reference lists and contact with authors were additional sources. REVIEW METHODS Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility and extracted data. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of included studies. We conducted random-effects pairwise meta-analyses for five primary outcomes, including resilience. The intervention contents and techniques were narratively synthesized. RESULTS Of 39,794 records retrieved, 24 studies were included in the review (N = 1879 randomized participants), 17 in meta-analyses (n = 1020 participants). At post-intervention, we found very-low certainty evidence of moderate effects in favor of resilience training for resilience (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.39; 95% CI [confidence interval] 0.12-0.66) and well-being (SMD 0.44; 95% CI 0.15-0.72), while there was no evidence of effects on symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. The improvement of well-being was sustained in the short-term (≤3 months), with additional delayed benefits for anxiety and stress. There was no evidence of effects at later follow-ups, with the caveat of only three available studies. Among nine programs with evidence of positive moderate effect sizes, intervention contents included mindfulness and relaxation, psychoeducation, emotion regulation, cognitive strategies, problem-solving and the strengthening of internal and external resources. CONCLUSIONS Given the chronic stressor exposure in nursing staff, our findings may guide both the design and implementation of nurse-directed resilience interventions. To improve the certainty of evidence, more rigorous high-quality research using improved study designs (e.g., larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods) is urgently needed. REGISTRATION PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017082827.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Kunzler
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany.
| | - Andrea Chmitorz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Faculty of Social Work, Health Care and Nursing, Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Röthke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Sarah K Schäfer
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany
| | - Jutta Stoffers-Winterling
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus Lieb
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
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O'Daffer A, Colt SF, Wasil AR, Lau N. Efficacy and Conflicts of Interest in Randomized Controlled Trials Evaluating Headspace and Calm Apps: Systematic Review. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e40924. [PMID: 36125880 PMCID: PMC9533203 DOI: 10.2196/40924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although there are thousands of mental health apps, 2 apps, Headspace and Calm, claim a large percentage of the marketplace. These two mindfulness and meditation apps have reached tens of millions of active users. To guide consumers, clinicians, and researchers, we performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Headspace and Calm. OBJECTIVE Our study aimed to evaluate intervention efficacy, risk of bias, and conflicts of interest (COIs) in the evidence base for Headspace and Calm, the two most popular mental health apps at the time of our search. METHODS To identify studies, we searched academic databases (Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) and the websites of Headspace and Calm in May 2021 for RCTs of Headspace and Calm testing efficacy via original data collection, published in English in peer-reviewed journals. For each study, we coded (1) study characteristics (eg, participants, sample size, and outcome measures), (2) intervention characteristics (eg, free vs paid version of the app and intended frequency of app usage), (3) all study outcomes, (4) Cochrane risk of bias variables, and (5) COI variables (eg, presence or absence of a preregistration and the presence or absence of a COI statement involving the company). RESULTS We identified 14 RCTs of Headspace and 1 RCT of Calm. Overall, 93% (13/14) of RCTs of Headspace and 100% (1/1) of RCTs of Calm recruited participants from a nonclinical population. Studies commonly measured mindfulness, well-being, stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Headspace use improved depression in 75% of studies that evaluated it as an outcome. Findings were mixed for mindfulness, well-being, stress, and anxiety, but at least 40% of studies showed improvement for each of these outcomes. Studies were generally underpowered to detect "small" or "medium" effect sizes. Furthermore, 50% (7/14) of RCTs of Headspace and 0% (0/1) of RCTs of Calm reported a COI that involved Headspace or Calm (the companies). The most common COI was the app company providing premium app access for free for participants, and notably, 14% (2/14) of RCTs of Headspace reported Headspace employee involvement in study design, execution, and data analysis. Only 36% (5/14) of RCTs of Headspace were preregistered, and the 1 RCT of Calm was not preregistered. CONCLUSIONS The empirical research on Headspace appears promising, whereas there is an absence of randomized trials on Calm. Limitations of this study include an inability to compare Headspace and Calm owing to the dearth of RCTs studying Calm and the reliance on author reports to evaluate COIs. When determining whether or not mental health apps are of high quality, identification of high-quality apps and evaluation of their effectiveness and investigators' COIs should be ensured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison O'Daffer
- Palliative Care and Resilience Research Program, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Susannah F Colt
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Akash R Wasil
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nancy Lau
- Palliative Care and Resilience Research Program, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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A systematic review of digital and face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. NPJ Digit Med 2022; 5:144. [PMID: 36109583 PMCID: PMC9476400 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-022-00677-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) represents one of the major treatment options for depressive disorders besides pharmacological interventions. While newly developed digital CBT approaches hold important advantages due to higher accessibility, their relative effectiveness compared to traditional CBT remains unclear. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify all studies that conducted a CBT-based intervention (face-to-face or digital) in patients with major depression. Random-effects meta-analytic models of the standardized mean change using raw score standardization (SMCR) were computed. In 106 studies including n = 11854 patients face-to-face CBT shows superior clinical effectiveness compared to digital CBT when investigating depressive symptoms (p < 0.001, face-to-face CBT: SMCR = 1.97, 95%-CI: 1.74–2.13, digital CBT: SMCR = 1.20, 95%-CI: 1.08–1.32) and adherence (p = 0.014, face-to-face CBT: 82.4%, digital CBT: 72.9%). However, after accounting for differences between face-to-face and digital CBT studies, both approaches indicate similar effectiveness. Important variables with significant moderation effects include duration of the intervention, baseline severity, adherence and the level of human guidance in digital CBT interventions. After accounting for potential confounders our analysis indicates comparable effectiveness of face-to-face and digital CBT approaches. These findings underline the importance of moderators of clinical effects and provide a basis for the future personalization of CBT treatment in depression.
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Dong D, Mu TY, Xu JY, Dai JN, Zhou ZN, Zhang QZ, Shen CZ. A WeChat-based self-compassion training to improve the treatment adherence of patients with schizophrenia in China: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Front Psychol 2022; 13:931802. [PMID: 36110273 PMCID: PMC9469756 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.931802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundAt present, adherence to antipsychotic treatment is often poor, leading to the recurrence of symptoms. This increases the likelihood of the patient experiencing disability and thus increases the disease burden for the patient, their family, and society as a whole. However, to date, there is no clear evidence regarding the effect of medication adherence interventions on outcomes for patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, the traditional intervention methods are limited by manpower and resources in low- and middle-income countries. Recent studies have demonstrated that increasing a patient’s level of self-compassion may improve their treatment adherence. Online mental health care interventions have advantages in terms of feasibility and acceptability for patients with schizophrenia. In this regard, a WeChat-based self-compassion training protocol to improve patient treatment adherence was designed in this study and will be evaluated in the future to determine its impact on patients with schizophrenia.MethodsThe protocol for the randomized controlled trial (RCT) is based on the SPIRIT 2013 statement. This parallel RCT will aim to recruit 392 patients with schizophrenia who will be randomized at a 1:1 ratio into a 3-week intervention or control group. Both groups will receive routine care. The intervention group will also receive WeChat-based self-compassion training, which requires participants to complete three tasks every day, including a reading task, a meditation task, and a self-compassion journal task. The control group will receive WeChat-based psychological health education, which will only require participants to read positive articles about psychological health every day. Medication adherence, self-compassion, stigma, and social support will be measured at baseline (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and 3 weeks after the intervention (T2). Program feasibility will be evaluated throughout the course of the study, and acceptability will be measured immediately after the intervention (T1).Expected results:The intervention described here will address the barriers to accessing mental health care for people with schizophrenia, including patients’ desire for independent management, difficulty accessing providers, and concerns about privacy and stigma. The current study provides guidance for clinical nurses to carry out psychological intervention, with the ultimate aim of addressing the problems associated with a shortage of psychological professionals in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Die Dong
- College of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ting-Yu Mu
- College of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Yi Xu
- College of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Ning Dai
- College of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Nan Zhou
- College of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Cui-Zhen Shen
- College of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Cui-Zhen Shen,
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Medina JC, Paz C, García-Mieres H, Niño-Robles N, Herrera JE, Feixas G, Montesano A. Efficacy of psychological interventions for young adults with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 152:366-374. [PMID: 35793580 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychological interventions are commonly used to treat mild-to-moderate depression, but their efficacy in young adults has not been exhaustively addressed. This meta-analysis aims to establish it in comparison to no treatment, wait-list, usual treatment, passive interventions, and other bona-fide treatments. METHODS The search was conducted in Scopus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, the ISRCTN Registry, Cochrane CENTRAL, Clarivate BIOSIS Previews and the METAPSY database, retrieving studies from the start of records to April 2020. Eligibility criteria included samples of 16-30 years experiencing mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms and participating in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, or pre-post studies measuring depressive symptomatology and featuring psychological treatments. RESULTS Up to 45 studies met criteria, consisting of 3,947 participants, assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies and their results meta-analyzed assuming random effects. Psychological interventions proved to be efficacious in RCTs compared to no treatment (g = -0.68; 95% CI = -0.87, -0.48) and wait-list (g = -1.04; 95% CI = -1.25, -0.82), while depressive symptoms also improved in pre-post studies (g = -0.99; 95% CI = -1.32, -0.66). However, intervention efficacy was similar to usual care, passive, and bona-fide comparators. The heterogeneity found, a likely reporting bias and the low quality of most studies must be considered when interpreting these results. CONCLUSIONS Psychological treatments are efficacious to reduce depressive symptoms in young adults, but comparable to other interventions in the mild-to-moderate range. Moderators like depression severity or therapist involvement significantly influenced their efficacy, with results encouraging clinicians to adopt flexible and personalized approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Medina
- Department of Psychology and Education Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - C Paz
- School of Psychology, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - H García-Mieres
- Etiopathogenesis and Treatment of Severe Mental Disorders (MERITT), Teaching, Research & Innovation Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - N Niño-Robles
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J E Herrera
- School of Psychology, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - G Feixas
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Montesano
- Department of Psychology and Education Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
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