The DOI matches its Crossref record; 96 of the 96 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Effectiveness of a Novel Integrative Online Treatment for Depression (Deprexis): Randomized Controlled Trial
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with immense suffering and costs, and many patients receive inadequate care, often because of the limited availability of treatment. Web-based treatments may play an increasingly important role in closing this gap between demand and supply. We developed the integrative, Web-based program Deprexis, which covers therapeutic approaches such as behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness/acceptance exercises, and social skills training. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Web-based intervention in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: There were 396 adults recruited via Internet depression forums in Germany, and they were randomly assigned in an 80:20 weighted randomization sequence to either 9 weeks of immediate-program-access as an add-on to treatment-as-usual (N = 320), or to a 9-week delayed-access plus treatment-as-usual condition (N = 76). At pre- and post-treatment and 6-month follow-up, we measured depression (Beck Depression Inventory) as the primary outcome measure and social functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale) as the secondary outcome measure. Complete analyses and intention-to-treat analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 396 participants, 216 (55%) completed the post-measurement 9 weeks later. Available case analyses revealed a significant reduction in depression severity (BDI), Cohen's d = .64 (CI 95% = 0.33 - 0.94), and significant improvement in social functioning (WSA), Cohen's d = .64, 95% (CI 95% = 0.33 - 0.95). These improvements were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses confirmed significant effects on depression and social functioning improvements (BDI: Cohen's d = .30, CI 95% = 0.05 - 0.55; WSA: Cohen's d = .36, CI 95% = 0.10 - 0.61). Moreover, a much higher percentage of patients in the intervention group experienced a significant reduction of depression symptoms (BDI: odds ratio [OR] = 6.8, CI 95% = 2.90 - 18.19) and recovered more often (OR = 17.3, 95% CI 2.3 - 130). More than 80% of the users felt subjectively that the program had been helpful. CONCLUSIONS: This integrative, Web-based intervention was effective in reducing symptoms of depression and in improving social functioning. Findings suggest that the program could serve as an adjunctive or stand-alone treatment tool for patients suffering from symptoms of depression.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“online treatment is clearly better than nothing, according to recent studies. [17-19,32]”
From The more it is needed, the less it is wanted: Attitudes toward face-to-face intervention among depressed patients undergoing online treatment (2013) · cites this paper as [17]
In the citing paper
“The number of modules completed was found to correlate with outcomes in interventions that targeted cigarette smoking [42,46,47], depression [45,48-51], and anxiety disorders [52-57].”
From A Systematic Review of the Impact of Adherence on the Effectiveness of e-Therapies (2011) · cites this paper as [50]
In the citing paper
“While recent studies have shown that adding online sessions or modules to regular face-to-face psychotherapy can increase the adherence and effectiveness of a patients’ treatment, it also increases costs and workload among professionals [17-19].”
In the citing paper
“Deprexis, the treatment tested by Meyer et al. [23] and Berger et al. [16], is an example of such a blend as it includes positive psychology interventions, dreamwork and emotion-focused interventions above more traditional cognitive and behavioral techniques.”
From Internet-based psychological treatments for depression (2012) · cites this paper as [23]
In the citing paper
“The WSAS has been shown to have sound psychometric properties when administered on the Internet [20]”
From Breaking open the black box: isolating the most potent features of a web and mobile phone-based intervention for depression, anxiety, and stress (2015) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“An analysis of a number of previous studies of an online intervention for depression in the community and that have used a CBT protocol similar to the intervention in the current study have reported post-treatment effect sizes averaging 1.29, and follow-up effects averaging 1.42, based on samples ranging from 45 – 300 [39,42-48].”
In the citing paper
“Some online programs, such as Deprexis, use patient feedback to select specific content presented to patients [35].”
In the citing paper
“It has been reported that a free-choice program in European countries had a higher completion rate and was more effective than a fixed order program24.”
From Effect of smartphone-based stress management programs on depression and anxiety of hospital nurses in Vietnam: a three-arm randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [24]
In the citing paper
“In addition, Program A (free-choice) showed non-significant effects on depression and anxiety symptoms at any follow-up, which were smaller than Program B (fixed-order), which is also contrast to previous finding in Europe24.”
From Effect of smartphone-based stress management programs on depression and anxiety of hospital nurses in Vietnam: a three-arm randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [24]
In the citing paper
“This is contradicted previous findings that a free-choice program showed a higher completion rate than a fixed order program in European countries24.”
From Effect of smartphone-based stress management programs on depression and anxiety of hospital nurses in Vietnam: a three-arm randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [24]
In the citing paper
“A possible reason is a difference in ways of tailoring between the previous study and the present study. While the previous study used a navigation program to direct users to the most appropriate program based on pre-determined responses concerning their needs and preferences, the present study simply asked users to select one of the free-choice modules.”
From Effect of smartphone-based stress management programs on depression and anxiety of hospital nurses in Vietnam: a three-arm randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [24]
In the citing paper
“The completion rates, satisfaction, and usefulness of the two programs were similar. The finding is inconsistent with a previous finding reporting a more favorable adherence to a free-choice program than a fixed-order program in European countries24.”
From Effect of smartphone-based stress management programs on depression and anxiety of hospital nurses in Vietnam: a three-arm randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [24]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
An inventory for measuring depression
BECK, A. T. (1961) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004 · Cited by 38,032
The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000) · Psychological Inquiry · doi:10.1207/s15327965pli1104_01 · Cited by 34,210
Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory: Twenty-five years of evaluation
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Carbin, M. G. (1988) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/0272-7358(88)90050-5 · Cited by 11,696
Positive psychology: An introduction.
Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.55.1.5 · Cited by 11,351
Cognitive Therapy for Depression
(2012) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e675542012-001 · Cited by 9,678
Human agency in social cognitive theory.
Bandura, A. (1989) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.44.9.1175 · Cited by 8,263
Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Koretz, D., Merikangas, K. R., Rush, A. J., Walters, E. E., & Wang, P. S. (2003) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.289.23.3095 · Cited by 7,988
Jacobson, N. S., & Truax, P. (1991) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.59.1.12 · Cited by 7,770
Acceptance and commitment therapy: model, processes and outcomes
Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006 · Cited by 6,587 · cited 2×
“acceptance-based interventions for depression, anxiety, and related syndromes and disorders [33-35].”
Background(1999) · Cited by 5,934
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 9
- Kessler, RC, 2001, Health Serv Res, 36, 987
- Wittchen, HU, 2000, Ergebnisse des bundesweiten Gesundheitssurveys “Psychische Störungen”. Fortschritte der Medizin, 118, 4
- Andersson, G, 2007, Review Series Psychiatry, 9, 9
- Hautzinger, M, 2003, Kognitive Verhaltenstherapie bei Depressionen (Cognitive behavioural therapy of depression)
- 10.1093/clipsy.7.2.20 · DOI
- Pennebaker, JW, 2004, Writing to Heal
- 10.1080/1050330961233133153 · DOI
- Morris, J, 1985, The Dream Workbook: Discover the Knowledge and Power Hidden in your Dreams
- Hautzinger, M, 1995, BDI: Beck-Depressions-Inventar, Testhandbuch, 2. überarbeitete Auflage
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–362 of 362
INTERNET-BASED TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION AND PANIC DISORDER From Development to Deployment
Bergström, J. (2010) · Figshare · Cited by 2
Behavioural Activation Interventions for Depression and Well-being
Mazzucchelli, T. G. (2010) · eSpace (Curtin University) · Cited by 2
Heißel, A., Bollmann, J., Kangas, M., Abula, K., Rapp, M. A., & Sánchez, A. (2021) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-151437/v1 · Cited by 2
von Wachter, M., & Hendrischke, A. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-47983-4_22 · Cited by 1
Mira, A., Enrique, Á., Díaz‐García, A., Rachyla, I., González‐Robles, A., Bretón, J., & Botella, C. (2018) · REVISTA ARGENTINA DE CLINICA PSICOLOGICA · doi:10.24205/03276716.2018.1077 · Cited by 2
Zhen, F., Cao, S., Wang, J., Yuan, Q., Zhao, X., & Jun, L. (2026) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1740551 · Cited by 1
“Tsai et al. (15) demonstrated that clinicians can incorporate the QPL into routine health education for breast cancer patients.”
Internettbasert behandling av depresjon
Solem, S., & Ulleberg, E. (2017) · Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening · doi:10.4045/tidsskr.16.0842 · Cited by 1
Methods for Preventing Depression on Digital Platforms and in Social Media
Danina, M. M., Kiselnikova, N. V., Kuminskaya, E. A., Lavrova, E. V., & Greskova, P. A. (2019) · Clinical Psychology and Special Education · doi:10.17759/cpse.2019080306 · Cited by 1
Berger, T. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-3-437-23031-8.00035-2 · Cited by 1
Self-citationOnline-Psychotherapieprogramme als neue Therapieoption in der Depression am Beispiel von deprexis®24
Ezernieks, J., & Kühn, S. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-15987-0_16 · Cited by 1
Internet-Based/Technology-Based Interventions in Major Depressive Disorder
Rajagopalan, A., & Ho, R. (2019) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-58131-8.00011-2 · Cited by 1
Who seeks Internet-based interventions for depression in Brazil?
Lopes, R. D. C. T., Svacina, M. A., Penedo, J. M. G., Roussos, A., Meyer, B., & Berger, T. (2021) · Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas) · doi:10.1590/1982-0275202138e190166 · Cited by 2
“8% of the ones that completed the initial questionnaire (Meyer et al., 2009).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSelf-citationImproving the Efficiency and Scalability of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies
Dobias, M., Schleider, J. L., & Ollendick, T. H. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818697-8.00075-3 · Cited by 2
Olivetti, E., Bongiovanni, C., Staccini, L., Cavadini, D., Mandelli, L., & Porcelli, S. (2022) · QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA · doi:10.3280/qpc49-2021oa13211 · Cited by 1
Depressão e incapacidade funcional em idosos : um estudo de base populacional
da Silva, S. A. (2013) · doi:10.11606/t.5.2013.tde-24062013-112733 · Cited by 1
An mHealth intervention for the dietary management of hemodialysis patients
Cosette, F. E. K. (2020) · doi:10.26481/dis.20200701cf · Cited by 2
Ghosh, A., Cherian, R. J., Wagle, S., Sharma, P., Kannan, K. R., Bajpai, A., & Gupta, N. (2021) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2021.11.24.21266799 · Cited by 1
“Content tailoring has the potential to increase adherence to cCBT interventions as participants are more likely to stick with a program if they find the content relatable (Carlbring et al., 2011; Johansson et al., 2012; Meyer et al., 2009).”
BackgroundInfluentialZernicke, K. A. (2015) · Libraries and Cultural Resources (University of Calgary) · doi:10.11575/prism/27180
Topolovec‐Vranic, J., Taneva, S., Shamis, J., & Ouchterlony, D. (2012) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/27696
“Seven of the trials were community based (Christensen et al., 2004; Meyer et al., 2009; Patten, 2003; Perini et al., 2009; Spek et al., 2007; van Straten et al., 2008; Warmerdam et al., 2008), two were undertaken in the context of a health care organization (Clarke et al.”
BackgroundInfluentialRiper, H. M., Andersson, G., Christensen, H. M., Cuijpers, P. J., Lange, A., & Eysenbach, G. (2010)
Self-citationInternet-based Treatment of Depression in Primary Care: Effectiveness and Feasibility
Kivi, M. (2015) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)
A computerized intervention for depression : a randomized clinical trial
Sandoval, L. R. (2014) · Texas ScholarWorks (Texas Digital Library)
Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy
Høifødt, R. S. (2015)
Wie wirksam sind internetbasierte Programme?
Meyer, B., Jacob, G. A., & Weiss, M. (2014) · NeuroTransmitter · doi:10.1007/s15016-014-0587-7
Self-citationHunkeler, E. M., Hargreaves, A. D., Meresman, J. F., Lee, J., Simon, G. E., & Bauer, S. (2012)
McGrath, R. E., & O’Donohue, W. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-19036-5_6
e-Health Resources to Support Lifestyle Medicine and Management
Ahern, D. K., & Phalen, J. M. (2013) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b13781-119
MoodSwings: an online self-guided intervention for bipolar disorder
Lauder, S. D. (2016) · Minerva Access (University of Melbourne)
Internetnutzung bei depressiven Patienten
Laux, G., Florange, C., Schmauß, M., Bonnet, U., Deister, A., & Escafit-Schülke, M.-L. (2017) · NeuroTransmitter · doi:10.1007/s15016-017-6043-8
EHealth Interventions for People Suffering From Sleep Problems and Depressive Symptoms
Langrial, S. U., & Lappalainen, P. (2017) · Advances in psychology, mental health, and behavioral studies (APMHBS) book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-3241-5.ch005
Lieber online KI statt real KO
Ueberall, M. A. (2019) · Schmerzmedizin · doi:10.1007/s00940-019-0989-5
New technologies applied as alternative approaches in averting depression
Blithe Group, Ngabo-Woods, H., Instituto ITACA, U. P. D. V., Cuesta, S. A., Garcia-Gomez, J. M., & Instituto ITACA, U. P. D. V. (2017) · doi:10.46844/bri.17.00001.1
Jaramillo, J. C., Espinosa-Duque, D., Arcila, M. F., & Osorio, M. P. R. (2021) · TEMPUS PSICOLÓGICO · doi:10.30554/tempuspsi.4.1.3984.2021
Schure, M. B., McCrory, B., Greist, J. H., & Weissman, R. S. (2021) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-965880/v1
“Four trials assessing daily functioning/disability found either no signi cant group differences [45, 49] or a moderate effect size [46, 50].”
Background(2010) · Current Opinion in Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/yco.0b013e3283423055
EHealth Interventions for People Suffering From Sleep Problems and Depressive Symptoms
Langrial, S. U., & Lappalainen, P. (2021) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-8544-3.ch065
Topolovec‐Vranic, J., Mansoor, Y., Ennis, N., & Lightfoot, D. A. (2021) · doi:10.32920/14639889.v1
Topolovec‐Vranic, J., Mansoor, Y., Ennis, N., & Lightfoot, D. A. (2021) · doi:10.32920/14639889
Protocolo virtual autodirigido de Activación Conductual para la Depresión “ACTÍVATE”
Capador, D. N., Jiménez, V. A. H., Mantilla, M. M., & Cajamarca, D. S. (2022) · Psychologia · doi:10.21500/19002386.5713
Li, S., Gao, S., Shi, X., Guo, Y., & Xu, T. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3479766/v1
Évaluation et intervention en thérapie cognitivo-comportementale
Graziani, P., & Romo, L. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-2-294-77964-0.00006-4
Velthuizen, S. L. M., Lutz, M. C., van den Bos, E., Miers, A. C., & Westenberg, P. M. (2025) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2025.2583114 · Cited by 1
“Some studies did not report any information on this topic (e.g. Sethi et al., 2010) while many reported perceived feasibility scores and patient satisfaction but no actual usage data (e.g. Kobak et al., 2015; Meyer et al., 2009).”
Pearson, R., Harris, E., Metts, A. V., Beevers, C. G., Pfeiffer, P. N., & Creech, S. K. (2025) · doi:10.2196/preprints.86899
Self-citationYe, Q., Peng, F., Pan, C., Zhang, P., Xie, X., Li, Z., Tang, Y., Chen, D., Li, Y., Wu, J., et al. (2025) · Brain Health · doi:10.1002/brh2.70002
Tandon, T., Berger, T., Meyer, B., Khaled, O. A., Gupta, R., & Martin-Söelch, C. (2025) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-025-09377-6
Self-citationHeißel, A., Bollmann, J., Kangas, M., Abdulla, K. B., Rapp, M., & Sánchez, A. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14820886
Hui, V. K., Wong, C. Y.-F., Ka-Yiu, E., Ho, F. Y., & Chan, C. S. (2020) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.13076591
Pagliari, C., Cabinio, M., & Blasi, V. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-08980-9_21
Scholze, K., Allenhof, C., & Hegerl, U. (2026) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/58835
Pearson, R., Harris, E. P., Metts, A., Beevers, C. G., Pfeiffer, P. N., & Creech, S. K. (2025) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/86899
“The negligible change from posttreatment to follow-up suggests that gains achieved during the 8-week intervention period were sustained, which is consistent with findings from longer-term follow-up studies of Deprexis in civilian populations [18].”
InfluentialSelf-citationPearson, R., Mignogna, J., Metts, A., Beevers, C. G., Post, E. P., & Creech, S. K. (2026) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2026.117176
Self-citationSunzeri, E., & Sunzeri, F. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-14465-2_17
Internet CBT for panic disorder - a review
Praško, J., Vaněk, J., Bělohradová, K., Sollár, T., Šlepecký, M., Mikula, M., & Ocisková, M. (2026) · Psychiatrie pro praxi · doi:10.36290/psy.2026.021
Internet-/Online-basierte Psychotherapieverfahren
Zagorscak, P., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2026) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-45028-0_130-1
Elia, F. L., García‐Palacios, A., Botella, C., Penedo, J. M. G., Holtforth, M. G., Berger, T., & Fernández‐Álvarez, J. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1918892
Self-citationNeuroscience-informed psychoeducation for depression: From stress to adaptive brain recovery
Juruena, M. F. (2026) · Progress in brain research · doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2026.08.007
Jang, Y. J., Myung, W., Park, C. H. K., & Jeon, H. J. (2026) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2026.122653
Metadata
- Authors
- Meyer, B., Berger, T., Caspar, F., Beevers, C. G., Andersson, G., & Weiss, M.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
- University of Bern (CH)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Linköping University (SE)
- GAIA (Germany) (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Meyer, Björn
- Venue
- Journal of Medical Internet Research
- Publisher
- JMIR Publications Inc.
- Published
- 2009-05-11
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e15
- ISSN
- 1438-8871 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2762808
- OpenAlex
- W2115531241
- Semantic Scholar
- 37b1f1ccf725c315bb299af7bb17a1f37a3fe471
- Cited by
- 363
- References
- 96
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 19.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Journal of Medical Internet Research (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
- 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
- depression, online therapy, online intervention, Deprexis, behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, social skills training, integrative psychotherapy, social functioning, online forums, medication adherence, recovery from depression, digital mental health, treatment gap, user satisfaction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Behavior, Behavior Therapy, Cognition, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Emotions, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Life Style, Male, Online Systems, Patient Education as Topic, Personality Inventory, Problem Solving, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Social Adjustment, Social Behavior, Social Support, Exercise, Internet
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
