Cited by 390Digital Mental Health InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Treatment and Access

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Digital interventions for the treatment of depression: a meta-analytic review

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Moshe, Isaac, Terhorst, Yannik, Philippi, Paula, Domhardt, Matthias, Cuijpers, Pim, Cristea, Ioana, Pulkki-Råback, Laura, Baumeister, Harald, Sander, Lasse B.·2021·Psychological Bulletin

DOI 10.1037/bul0000334

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Abstract

The high global prevalence of depression, together with the recent acceleration of remote care owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, has prompted increased interest in the efficacy of digital interventions for the treatment of depression. We provide a summary of the latest evidence base for digital interventions in the treatment of depression based on the largest study sample to date. A systematic literature search identified 83 studies (N = 15,530) that randomly allocated participants to a digital intervention for depression versus an active or inactive control condition. Overall heterogeneity was very high (I2 = 84%). Using a random-effects multilevel metaregression model, we found a significant medium overall effect size of digital interventions compared with all control conditions (g = .52). Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences between interventions and different control conditions (WLC: g = .70; attention: g = .36; TAU: g = .31), significantly higher effect sizes in interventions that involved human therapeutic guidance (g = .63) compared with self-help interventions (g = .34), and significantly lower effect sizes for effectiveness trials (g = .30) compared with efficacy trials (g = .59). We found no significant difference in outcomes between smartphone-based apps and computer- and Internet-based interventions and no significant difference between human-guided digital interventions and face-to-face psychotherapy for depression, although the number of studies in both comparisons was low. Findings from the current meta-analysis provide evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of digital interventions for the treatment of depression for a variety of populations. However, reported effect sizes may be exaggerated because of publication bias, and compliance with digital interventions outside of highly controlled settings remains a significant challenge. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

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Authors: Moshe, I., Terhorst, Y., Philippi, P., Domhardt, M., Cuijpers, P., Cristea, I., Pulkki-Råback, L., Baumeister, H., & Sander, L. B.
Affiliations: University of Helsinki (FI)
Universität Ulm (DE)
Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
University of Pavia (IT)
Corresponding author: Moshe, Isaac
ORCID: Moshe, Isaac
Terhorst, Yannik
Philippi, Paula
Domhardt, Matthias
Cuijpers, Pim
Cristea, Ioana
Pulkki-Råback, Laura
Baumeister, Harald
Sander, Lasse B.
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2021-08
Volume: 147
Issue: 8
Pages: 749-786
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/bul0000334
OpenAlex: W4205983219
Semantic Scholar: 465098517e78d0cda5fff852518ff0e9bfb4e24b
Cited by: 390
References: 292
Citations by year: 2026: 66 · 2025: 109 · 2024: 85 · 2023: 88 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 2
FWCI: 47.92
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
research.vu.nl
Licence: other-oa
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Suomen Kulttuurirahasto
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: digital interventions, depression treatment, mobile application, computer-based intervention, online intervention, self-help intervention, remote care, COVID-19 pandemic, publication bias, intervention adherence
MeSH terms: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Depression, Humans, Pandemics

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Digital interventions for the treatment of depression: a meta-analytic review

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