title: Online cognitive behavioral therapy and problem-solving therapy for depressive symptoms: Exploring mechanisms of change.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate treatment specificity and potential mediators of two online therapies for depressive symptoms. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in which 263 participants were randomized to online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), online problem-solving therapy (PST) or a waiting list control group. Both treatments were more effective than the control group in reducing dysfunctional attitudes, worry, negative problem orientation and enhancing feelings of control. No differences between the treatments were found on each of the potential mediators. Furthermore, results suggest that dysfunctional attitudes, worrying, a negative problem orientation and perceived control all played a mediating role in CBT as well as in PST. Our findings suggest that regardless of the theoretical background to the therapy, the psychological processes necessary for symptom reduction seem to be comparable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. eh.warmerdam@psy.vu.nl
authors.forename: Lisanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Warmerdam
authors.forename: Annemieke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Straten
authors.forename: Jantien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jongsma
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Twisk
authors.forename: Pim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cuijpers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001244:Association; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009862:Online Systems; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D016353:Self-Examination; D012938:Social Perception; D013997:Time Factors