title: Randomised controlled non-inferiority trial with 3-year follow-up of internet-delivered versus face-to-face group cognitive behavioural therapy for depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Guided internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) has been found to be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression, but there have been no direct comparisons with the more established group-based CBT with a long-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants with mild to moderate depression were recruited from the general population and randomized to either guided ICBT (n=33) or to live group treatment (n=36). Measures were completed before and after the intervention to assess depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Follow-ups were conducted at one-year and three-year after the treatment had ended.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis using linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results on the self-rated version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Scale showed significant improvements in both groups across time indicating non-inferiority of guided ICBT, and there was even a tendency for the guided ICBT group to be superior to group-based CBT at three year follow-up. Within-group effect sizes for the ICBT condition at post-treatment showed a Cohen's d=1.46, with a similar large effect at 3-year follow-up, d=1.78. For the group CBT the corresponding within-group effects were d=0.99 and d=1.34, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study was small with two active treatments and there was no placebo or credible control condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Guided ICBT is at least as effective as group-based CBT and long-term effects can be sustained up to 3 years after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Gerhard.Andersson@liu.se.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hesser
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veilord
authors.forename: Linn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Svedling
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Owe
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sleman
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mauritzson
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarkohi
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Claesson
authors.forename: Vendela
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zetterqvist
authors.forename: Mailen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamminen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlbring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Group-based treatment; Guided self-help; Internet treatment; Major depression