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Cited by 188Digital Mental Health InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Treatment and Access

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Effects of an Internet intervention (Deprexis) on severe depression symptoms: Randomized controlled trial

Open access
Meyer, Björn, Bierbrodt, Julia, Schröder, Johanna, Berger, Thomas, Beevers, Christopher G., Weiss, Mario, Jacob, Gitta, Späth, Christina, Andersson, Gerhard, Lutz, Wolfgang, Hautzinger, Martin, Löwe, Bernd, Rose, Matthias, Hohagen, Fritz, Caspar, Franz, Greiner, Wolfgang, Moritz, Steffen, Klein, Jan Philipp·2015·Internet Interventions
DOI 10.1016/j.invent.2014.12.003
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Abstract

Background Studies have shown that certain Internet interventions can help alleviate depression. However, many such interventions contain personal support elements, making it difficult to ascertain whether the program or the support drives the effects. Studies are needed to investigate whether Internet interventions contribute to symptom reduction even when they are delivered without personal support, and even among severely depressed individuals who often receive other forms of treatment. Objective This randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effect of an Internet intervention that was deployed without personal support (“Deprexis”) among adults with initially severe depression symptoms. Methods Adults recruited from a range of sources who had exceeded the threshold for severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 15) in a pre-screening assessment and met inclusion criteria were randomized ( N = 163) to the intervention (3 months program access; n = 78) or care-as-usual/waitlist control ( n = 85). A diagnostic screening interview was administered by telephone at baseline to all participants. Online assessments were administered at baseline, 3 months (post-treatment), and 6 months (follow-up). The main outcome was the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) between baseline and post-treatment. Results Eighty-two percent of randomized participants were reached for the post-treatment assessment. Results for the intention-to-treat (ITT) sample showed significant intervention effects on depression reduction between baseline and post-treatment (linear mixed model [MM], F 1,155.6 = 9.00, p < .01, for the time by condition interaction), with a medium between-group effect size, Cohen's d = 0.57 (95% CI: 0.22–0.92). Group differences in depression severity at follow-up were marginally significant in the ITT sample, t (119) = 1.83, p = 0.07, and smaller than at post-treatment (PHQ-9, d = 0.33, 95% CI: − 0.03–0.69). The number needed to treat (NNT) at post-treatment was 5, with 38% of participants in the intervention group achieving response (at least 50% PHQ-9 symptom change, plus post-treatment score < 10), compared to 17% in the control group, p < 0.01. Effects on secondary outcomes, including anxiety, health-related quality of life, and somatic symptoms, were not significant, with the exception of significant effects on anxiety reduction in PP analyses. Early ratings of program helpfulness/alliance (after 3 weeks) predicted pre–post depression reduction, controlling for baseline severity and early symptom change. Conclusions These results replicate and extend previous findings by showing that Deprexis can facilitate symptomatic improvement over 3 months and, perhaps to a lesser degree, up until 6 months among adults with initially severe depression.

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Metadata

Authors
Meyer, B., Bierbrodt, J., Schröder, J., Berger, T., Beevers, C. G., Weiss, M., Jacob, G., Späth, C., Andersson, G., Lutz, W., Hautzinger, M., Löwe, B., Rose, M., Hohagen, F., Caspar, F., Greiner, W., Moritz, S., & Klein, J. P.
Affiliations
  • City, University of London (GB)
  • University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
  • University of Bern (CH)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
  • GAIA (Germany) (DE)
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • University of Lübeck (DE)
  • Linköping University (SE)
  • Universität Trier (DE)
  • University of Tübingen (DE)
  • Schön Klinik Hamburg Eilbek (DE)
  • University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
  • Bielefeld University (DE)
Corresponding author
Meyer, Björn
ORCID
Venue
Internet Interventions
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-03
Volume
2
Issue
1
Pages
48-59
ISSN
2214-7829 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.invent.2014.12.003
OpenAlex
W2046949542
Cited by
188
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 3
FWCI
20.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Internet Interventions (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Open Access CRIS of the University of Bern
Funders
Gaia AG
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
severe depression, online intervention, Deprexis, self-help, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, PHQ-9, depression symptom reduction, anxiety, health-related quality of life, somatic symptoms, waitlist control, number needed to treat, digital mental health interventions, adults with depression

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