Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience Sample
BackgroundInternet- and mobile-based interventions are most efficacious in the treatment of depression when they involve some form of guidance, but providing guidance requires resources such as trained personnel, who might not always be available (eg, during lockdowns to cont...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-07-01
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| Series: | JMIR Mental Health |
| Online Access: | https://mental.jmir.org/2021/7/e28321 |
| _version_ | 1797735877440438272 |
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| author | Caroline Oehler Katharina Scholze Hanna Reich Christian Sander Ulrich Hegerl |
| author_facet | Caroline Oehler Katharina Scholze Hanna Reich Christian Sander Ulrich Hegerl |
| author_sort | Caroline Oehler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundInternet- and mobile-based interventions are most efficacious in the treatment of depression when they involve some form of guidance, but providing guidance requires resources such as trained personnel, who might not always be available (eg, during lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic).
ObjectiveThe current analysis focuses on changes in symptoms of depression in a guided sample of patients with depression who registered for an internet-based intervention, the iFightDepression tool, as well as the extent of intervention use, compared to an unguided sample. The objective is to further understand the effects of guidance and adherence on the intervention’s potential to induce symptom change.
MethodsLog data from two convenience samples in German routine care were used to assess symptom change after 6-9 weeks of intervention as well as minimal dose (finishing at least two workshops). A linear regression model with changes in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score as a dependent variable and guidance and minimal dose as well as their interaction as independent variables was specified.
ResultsData from 1423 people with symptoms of depression (n=940 unguided, 66.1%) were included in the current analysis. In the linear regression model predicting symptom change, a significant interaction of guidance and minimal dose revealed a specifically greater improvement for patients who received guidance and also worked with the intervention content (β=–1.75, t=–2.37, P=.02), while there was little difference in symptom change due to guidance in the group that did not use the intervention. In this model, the main effect of guidance was only marginally significant (β=–.53, t=–1.78, P=.08).
ConclusionsGuidance in internet-based interventions for depression is not only an important factor to facilitate adherence, but also seems to further improve results for patients adhering to the intervention compared to those who do the same but without guidance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:05:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-751ac5fb1742472bba904ae5b90468c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-7959 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:05:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-751ac5fb1742472bba904ae5b90468c72023-08-28T17:04:58ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Mental Health2368-79592021-07-0187e2832110.2196/28321Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience SampleCaroline Oehlerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8329-147XKatharina Scholzehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6379-474XHanna Reichhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9577-1144Christian Sanderhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5402-6631Ulrich Hegerlhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3039-7470 BackgroundInternet- and mobile-based interventions are most efficacious in the treatment of depression when they involve some form of guidance, but providing guidance requires resources such as trained personnel, who might not always be available (eg, during lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic). ObjectiveThe current analysis focuses on changes in symptoms of depression in a guided sample of patients with depression who registered for an internet-based intervention, the iFightDepression tool, as well as the extent of intervention use, compared to an unguided sample. The objective is to further understand the effects of guidance and adherence on the intervention’s potential to induce symptom change. MethodsLog data from two convenience samples in German routine care were used to assess symptom change after 6-9 weeks of intervention as well as minimal dose (finishing at least two workshops). A linear regression model with changes in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score as a dependent variable and guidance and minimal dose as well as their interaction as independent variables was specified. ResultsData from 1423 people with symptoms of depression (n=940 unguided, 66.1%) were included in the current analysis. In the linear regression model predicting symptom change, a significant interaction of guidance and minimal dose revealed a specifically greater improvement for patients who received guidance and also worked with the intervention content (β=–1.75, t=–2.37, P=.02), while there was little difference in symptom change due to guidance in the group that did not use the intervention. In this model, the main effect of guidance was only marginally significant (β=–.53, t=–1.78, P=.08). ConclusionsGuidance in internet-based interventions for depression is not only an important factor to facilitate adherence, but also seems to further improve results for patients adhering to the intervention compared to those who do the same but without guidance.https://mental.jmir.org/2021/7/e28321 |
| spellingShingle | Caroline Oehler Katharina Scholze Hanna Reich Christian Sander Ulrich Hegerl Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience Sample JMIR Mental Health |
| title | Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience Sample |
| title_full | Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience Sample |
| title_fullStr | Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience Sample |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience Sample |
| title_short | Intervention Use and Symptom Change With Unguided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Log Data Analysis of a Convenience Sample |
| title_sort | intervention use and symptom change with unguided internet based cognitive behavioral therapy for depression during the covid 19 pandemic log data analysis of a convenience sample |
| url | https://mental.jmir.org/2021/7/e28321 |
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