Effects of a cognitive behavioral self-help program and a computerized structured writing intervention on depressed mood for HIV-infected people: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine whether low-resource, cost-effective intervention programs can be effective in improving depressed mood in people with HIV. The efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral self-help program (CBS) and a computerized structured writing intervention (SWI) were tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Participants were members of a patient organization. They completed a pretest and posttest. The questionnaire included the HADS. Participants were randomly allocated to CBS (n=24), SWI (n=25) or a waiting list condition (WLC, n=24). To evaluate changes in the continuous outcome measure, a 3 x 2 (group x time) repeated measures ANCOVA was performed. Also, an ANCOVA was performed using change scores.


RESULTS
Respondents who followed the CBS improved significantly compared to the WLC. However, for people in the SWI condition no significant improvement on depression was found.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study suggests that a low-resource, cost-effective CBS program seems to be effective in reducing depressed mood in people living with HIV.


CONCLUSIONS
Because self-help programs can be delivered through regular mail or the internet, a high number of people could be reached while overcoming geographical and social barriers to treatment.
Department of Medical Psychology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. V.Kraaij@lumc.nl
Vivian
V
Kraaij
Arnold
A
van Emmerik
Nadia
N
Garnefski
Maya J
MJ
Schroevers
Deborah
D
Lo-Fo-Wong
Pepijn
P
van Empelen
Elise
E
Dusseldorp
Robert
R
Witlox
Stan
S
Maes
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003201:Computers; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014956:Writing