Cited by 173Digital Mental Health InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Treatment and Access

Experiences of guided Internet-based cognitive-behavioural treatment for depression: A qualitative study

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Bendelin, Nina, Hesser, Hugo, Dahl, Johan, Carlbring, Per, Nelson, Karin Zetterqvist, Andersson, Gerhard·2011·BMC Psychiatry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Internet-based self-help treatment with minimal therapist contact has been shown to have an effect in treating various conditions. The objective of this study was to explore participants' views of Internet administrated guided self-help treatment for depression. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 strategically selected participants and qualitative methods with components of both thematic analysis and grounded theory were used in the analyses. RESULTS: Three distinct change processes relating to how participants worked with the treatment material emerged which were categorized as (a) Readers, (b) Strivers, and (c) Doers. These processes dealt with attitudes towards treatment, views on motivational aspects of the treatment, and perceptions of consequences of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the findings correspond with existing theoretical models of face-to-face psychotherapy within qualitative process research. Persons who take responsibility for the treatment and also attribute success to themselves appear to benefit more. Motivation is a crucial aspect of guided self-help in the treatment of depression.

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Crossref · 10.1186/1471-244x-11-107

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  • Internet-based treatments for psychological disorders delivered via computers tend to be text-based, often reaching close to 200 pages of reading.

    “Another limitation of Internet-based treatments for psychological disorders, delivered via computers, is that they tend to be text-based, often reaching close to 200 pages of reading ([Bendelin et al. 2011]).”

    From Development and initial evaluation of a smartphone application based on acceptance and commitment therapy (2012) · cites this paper as Bendelin et al. 2011

    Methods > Participants describes one Internet-based depression treatment containing 114 pages of text, supporting the point that such treatment can involve substantial reading. It does not establish that Internet-based treatments for psychological disorders generally tend to be text-based or often approach 200 pages; the study also included an email-based treatment with no prepared text. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • These findings align with previous ICBT studies for adolescent and adult participants, where many seem to find the treatment material relevant and informative.

    “These findings align with previous ICBT studies for adolescent and adult participants, where many seem to find the treatment material relevant and informative (Bendelin et al., 2011; Berg et al., 2020a; Lenhard et al., 2016).”
  • The current study meets the needs outlined in previous eHealth studies of having varied activities, a combination of audio, video, and text information, and being shorter in length.

    “The current study also meets the needs outlined in previous eHealth studies of having varied activities, a combination of audio, video, and text information, and being shorter in length (Bendelin et al., 2011).”

    From ACT2COPE: A pilot randomised trial of a brief online acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for people living with chronic health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic (2023) · cites this paper as Bendelin et al., 2011

    The Methods > Participants passage describes a text-based program with seven modules over eight weeks, while the Discussion suggests that some participants might benefit from more time or contact. Our copy does not outline a need for varied activities, combined audio/video/text information, or a shorter program; searches for those terms found no supporting passage. It also cannot establish whether the citing authors' current study meets those needs. (LLM, conf=0.74)

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  • Personal feedback and support are perceived as positive among patients, to optimally use the program and keep them motivated.

    “Studies on the experiences of patients with online therapy also show that personal feedback and support are perceived as positive among patients, to optimally use the program and to keep them motivated [12-14].”
  • This might correspond with Bendelin et al.'s (2011) suggestion that patients actively participating in internet-based treatment and exercises tend to achieve better outcomes.

    “This might correspond with Bendelin et al.'s (2011) suggestion that patients actively participating in internet‐based treatment and exercises tend to achieve better outcomes.”

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Authors
Bendelin, N., Hesser, H., Dahl, J., Carlbring, P., Nelson, K. Z., & Andersson, G.
Affiliations
  • Linköping University (SE)
  • Umeå University (SE)
Corresponding author
Andersson, Gerhard
Venue
BMC Psychiatry
Published
2011-06-30
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
107-107
ISSN
1471-244X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2146982643
Cited by
173
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
FWCI
13.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMC Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DiVA (Linkoping University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DiVA at Umeå University (Umeå University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Vetenskapsrådet
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
depression, online therapy, guided self-help, cognitive behavioral therapy, patient experience, treatment motivation, change processes, personal responsibility, therapeutic process
MeSH terms
Adult, Attitude to Health, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Self Care, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internet

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