An Internet-based self-help intervention for people with HIV and depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Long-Term Effectiveness of an Online Self-help Intervention for People with HIV and Depressive Symptoms

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effectiveness (3–4 years later) of an online intervention that was previously found to effectively reduce depressive symptoms in people with HIV on the short term. Participants were people with HIV who had participated in the large RCT on the short-term effectiveness of the guided online intervention. The primary outcome measure was depressive symptoms [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)] and the secondary outcome measure was anxiety symptoms [Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) scale]. Forty-seven participants completed the long-term follow-up. PHQ-9 scores, previously found to have been significantly reduced on the short term, remained low on the long term. GAD-2 scores did not decrease significantly on the short term, however, on the long term, a significant decrease was found. The intervention may not only be effective in lowering depressive symptoms on the short term but also retain the results on the long term.

Trial registration International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, NL8448, March 3, 2020.

Moderators of the effect of guided online self-help for people with HIV and depressive symptoms

The goal of the study was to investigate moderators of intervention effect of a guided Internet-based self-help cognitive behavioral intervention for people with HIV and depressive symptoms. This study was part of a randomized controlled trial where the intervention was found to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms, compared to an attention-only control group. Demographic characteristics (e.g., age), HIV characteristics (e.g., duration of HIV), and psychological characteristics (e.g., coping self-efficacy) were investigated as potential moderators of intervention effect. In 2015, 188 people with HIV and depressive symptoms were included in the study: 97 were randomized to the intervention group and 91 to the control group. Two moderators of intervention effect were found: coping self-efficacy and baseline depression severity. Participants with low coping self-efficacy and baseline depression severity improved more in the intervention group than in the control group, and participants with high coping self-efficacy and baseline depression severity improved in both groups. The results indicate that the intervention may be provided to all people with HIV and depressive symptoms. It may be especially important for people with HIV and low coping self-efficacy to start with the intervention since they show less improvement in the control group with only attention. Trial registration: Nederlands Trialregister NTR5407, September 11, 2015.

Exploring Mediators of a Guided Web-Based Self-Help Intervention for People With HIV and Depressive Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is frequently used to treat depressive symptoms in people living with HIV. We developed an internet-based cognitive behavioral intervention for people with HIV and depressive symptoms, which was based on an effective self-help booklet. The Web-based intervention was previously found to be effective.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate potential mediators of the Web-based intervention.

METHODS

This study was part of a randomized controlled trial, in which the intervention was compared with an attention-only waiting list control condition. Participants were 188 (97 in intervention group and 91 in control group) people with HIV and mild to moderate depressive symptoms recruited in HIV treatment centers in the Netherlands. A total of 22 participants (22/188, 11.7%) in the study were female and 166 (166/188, 88.3%) were male. The average age of the participants was 46.30 years (SD 10.63). The intervention comprised Web-based self-help CBT for 8 weeks, 1 to 2 hours a week, including minimal telephone support from a coach. The participants received Web-based questionnaires at pretest, 3 times during the intervention/or waiting period, and post intervention. The outcome was depressive symptoms. Factors tested as potential mediators were changes in behavioral activation, relaxation, the cognitive coping strategies catastrophizing and positive refocusing, goal re-engagement, and coping self-efficacy.

RESULTS

Using multilevel structural equation modeling, changes in behavioral activation (P=.006) and goal re-engagement (P=.009) were found to be significant mediators of the intervention effect. The mediation effect seemed to occur between weeks 3 and 5 for behavioral activation and weeks 1 and 3 for goal re-engagement. Using (bivariate) autoregressive latent trajectory analysis, we found a return effect (from the dependent variable to the mediator) for goal re-engagement but not for behavioral activation, which suggested that the mediation effect of changes in behavioral activation was stronger than that in goal re-engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that changes in behavioral activation and goal re-engagement may mediate the effect of the Web-based intervention for people with HIV and depressive symptoms. The results may lead to possible mechanisms of change of the intervention and improvement of therapy outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Netherlands Trial Register NTR5407; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5298.

Cost-utility of a guided Internet-based intervention in comparison with attention only for people with HIV and depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-utility of a guided Internet-based intervention for people living with HIV and depressive symptoms, compared to attention only (control condition). It was previously found that the intervention was effective in decreasing depressive symptoms, compared to the control group.

METHODS

This economic evaluation was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial. The control group received attention only and was put on a waiting list. Quality adjusted life years were calculated over six months. The study was conducted from a societal perspective and included intervention costs, healthcare costs, and non-healthcare costs. Participants completed a pretest, a post-test after two to three months, and a second post-test after six months. Cost-utility acceptability curves were constructed and two sensitivity analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

No differences between the intervention and the control group were found in quality adjusted life years and total societal costs. The results indicate that the intervention is likely to be cost-effective, compared to attention only. The findings of the sensitivity analyses point in the same direction.

CONCLUSION

More research with larger samples is necessary to confirm the findings. The outcomes of this study may inform policy makers to decide which interventions will be included in policies. The guided Internet intervention may improve psychological care for people living with HIV and depressive symptoms, against low costs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Nederlands Trialregister NTR5407, September 11, 2015.

Guided internet-based intervention for people with HIV and depressive symptoms: a randomised controlled trial in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Many people living with HIV have depressive symptoms, but some individuals do not receive adequate treatment. We developed an online self-help intervention for people with HIV with depressive symptoms on the basis of previous research. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention on depressive symptoms in individuals with HIV.

METHODS

In this randomised controlled trial, participants recruited from 23 HIV treatment centres in the Netherlands were eligible if they were aged 18 years and older, had been diagnosed with HIV at least 6 months before the study, and had mild to moderate depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] score >4 and <20). Individuals also had to speak English or Dutch and have internet access and an email address. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to an internet-based intervention (Living positive with HIV) or an attention-only waiting-list control condition. Randomisation was done using random number tables, with permuted blocks of 12, stratified by treatment centre and sex. Participants, researchers, and coaches were not masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms assessed with the PHQ-9 and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at pretest, 8 weeks after baseline, and 3 months after completion of the intervention or control condition (post-test 2). The primary analysis was done by intention to treat. Between group effect size was assessed with Cohen's d. This trial is registered with the Netherlands Trial Registry, number NTR5407.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 1, and Dec 31, 2015, we randomly assigned 188 participants to the intervention group (n=97) or the control group (n=91). Mean pretest PHQ-9 score was 11·74 (SD 2·49) in the intervention group and 11·11 (2·37) in the control group; at the post-test visits it was 6·73 (3·00) and 6·62 (3·03) in the intervention group and 8·60 (3·12) and 8·06 (3·17) in the control group. Mean pretest CES-D score was 24·91 (5·93) in the intervention group and 22·94 (6·48) in the control group; at the post-test visits it was 13·94 (6·39) and 15·71 (6·39) in the intervention group and 19·09 (7·05) and 18·43 (7·05) in the control group. The reduction in depressive symptoms was significantly larger in the intervention group than in the control group (d=-0·56 [95% CI -0·85 to -0·27] for PHQ-9 and -0·72 [-1·02 to -0·42] for CES-D at post-test 1; -0·46 [-0·75 to -0·17] for PHQ-9 and -0·47 [-0·76 to -0·18] for CES-D at post-test 2). No adverse events were reported.

INTERPRETATION

This guided internet-based intervention might be effective for the treatment of depressive symptoms. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of online psychological interventions for people with HIV who have mental health problems in low-income and middle-income countries.

FUNDING

Aids Fonds.

iCanADAPT Early protocol: randomised controlled trial (RCT) of clinician supervised transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT) for depression and/or anxiety in early stage cancer survivors -vs- treatment as usual

BACKGROUND

This RCT with two parallel arms will evaluate the efficacy of an internet-delivered transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) intervention for the treatment of clinical depression and/or anxiety in early stage cancer survivors.

METHODS/DESIGN

Early stage cancer survivors will be recruited via the research arm of a not-for-profit clinical research unit and randomised to an intervention (iCBT) group or a 'treatment as usual' (TAU) control group. The minimum sample size for each group is 45 people (assuming effect size > 0.6, power of 80%, and alpha at .05), but 10% more will be recruited to account for attrition. A solitary or cumulative diagnosis(es) of Major Depressive Episode (current), Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Illness Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and/or Adjustment disorder will be determined using modules from the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-5. Depression and anxiety levels with be measured via the total score of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS-T), the primary outcome measure. Secondary measures will include the Kessler 10 to measure general distress, the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) to measure the specific fear of cancer recurrence and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, General Version 4 (FACT-G) for self-report of physical, social, emotional and functional well-being. iCBT participants will complete the measures before lessons 1 and 5, at post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The TAU group will complete similar measures at weeks 1, 8 and 16 of the waiting period. Program efficacy will be determined using intent-to-treat mixed models. Maintenance of gains will be assessed at 3-month follow-up. Mediation analyses using PROCESS will be used to examine the association between change in depressive and anxious symptoms over time and changes in FCRI and FACT-G QOL in separate analysis.

DISCUSSION

This is the first RCT looking at iCBT specifically for clinical depression and/or anxiety in a cancer population. Findings will help to direct the role of iCBT in streamlined psycho-social care pathways.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616000231448, registered 19th February 2016 ( www.anzctr.org.au ). This trial protocol is in compliance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines.