Delivering interventions for depression by using the internet: randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of two internet interventions for community-dwelling individuals with symptoms of depression--a psychoeducation website offering information about depression and an interactive website offering cognitive behaviour therapy.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Internet users in the community, in Canberra, Australia.


METHODS
525 individuals with increased depressive symptoms recruited by survey and randomly allocated to a website offering information about depression (n = 166) or a cognitive behaviour therapy website (n = 182), or a control intervention using an attention placebo (n = 178).


METHODS
Change in depression, dysfunctional thoughts; knowledge of medical, psychological, and lifestyle treatments; and knowledge of cognitive behaviour therapy.


RESULTS
Intention to treat analyses indicated that information about depression and interventions that used cognitive behaviour therapy and were delivered via the internet were more effective than a credible control intervention in reducing symptoms of depression in a community sample. For the intervention that delivered cognitive behaviour therapy the reduction in score on the depression scale of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies was 3.2 (95% confidence interval 0.9 to 5.4). For the "depression literacy" site (BluePages), the reduction was 3.0 (95% confidence interval 0.6 to 5.2). Cognitive behaviour therapy (MoodGYM) reduced dysfunctional thinking and increased knowledge of cognitive behaviour therapy. Depression literacy (BluePages) significantly improved participants' understanding of effective evidence based treatments for depression (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both cognitive behaviour therapy and psychoeducation delivered via the internet are effective in reducing symptoms of depression.
Christensen
Helen
H
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Helen.Christensen@anu.edu.au
Griffiths
Kathleen M
KM
Jorm
Anthony F
AF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome