title: Feasibility and outcome of a web-based self-help intervention for depressive symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Web-based problem solving therapy (PST) is easily accessible and showed to be effective in depressed patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this pilot study were to examine feasibility and outcome (reduction of depressive symptoms) of an applied web-based PST intervention in MS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four MS patients with mild to severe depressive symptoms followed a web-based PST intervention. Feasibility was measured by compliance rate and satisfaction scales. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was used to measure depressive symptoms before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The compliance rate was 52%, and 85% of the patients rated the quality of the intervention as good or excellent. After the intervention, depressive symptoms had significantly decreased (BDI-II change: mean=-3.9, p=0.01, d=0.51 in intention-to-treat analysis; BDI-II change: mean=-9.0, p<0.001, d=1.50 in completers analysis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that applied web-based PST is feasible and reduces depressive symptoms in MS patients. Especially MS patients who experience disease-related or other barriers to participate in face-to-face counselling could benefit. However, ways to increase compliance should be considered. A randomized controlled trial is recommended to more extensively investigate effectiveness of this intervention in treating depressive symptoms in MS patients.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center and GGZinGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.boeschoten@ggzingeest.nl
authors: Rosa E
authors: RE
authors: Boeschoten
authors: Magdalena M
authors: MM
authors: Nieuwenhuis
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: van Oppen
authors: Bernard M J
authors: BM
authors: Uitdehaag
authors: Chris H
authors: CH
authors: Polman
authors: Emma H
authors: EH
authors: Collette
authors: Pim
authors: P
authors: Cuijpers
authors: Aartjan T F
authors: AT
authors: Beekman
authors: Joost
authors: J
authors: Dekker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome