1. Improving adherence and clinical outcomes in self-guided internet treatment for anxiety and depression: randomised controlled trial.
- Author
-
Titov N, Dear BF, Johnston L, Lorian C, Zou J, Wootton B, Spence J, McEvoy PM, and Rapee RM
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Australia, Female, Humans, Male, Medication Adherence, Middle Aged, New Zealand, Patient Satisfaction, Surveys and Questionnaires, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult, Anxiety therapy, Depression therapy, Electronic Mail, Internet, Psychotherapy
- Abstract
Background: Depression and anxiety are common, disabling and chronic. Self-guided internet-delivered treatments are popular, but few people complete them. New strategies are required to realise their potential., Aims: To evaluate the effect of automated emails on the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of a new automated transdiagnostic self-guided internet-delivered treatment, the Wellbeing Course, for people with depression and anxiety., Method: A randomised controlled trial was conducted through the website: www.ecentreclinic.org. Two hundred and fifty seven people with elevated symptoms were randomly allocated to the 8 week course either with or without automated emails, or to a waitlist control group. Primary outcome measures were the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-Item (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7)., Results: Participants in the treatment groups had lower PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores at post-treatment than controls. Automated emails increased rates of course completion (58% vs. 35%), and improved outcomes in a subsample with elevated symptoms., Conclusions: The new self-guided course was beneficial, and automated emails facilitated outcomes. Further attention to strategies that facilitate adherence, learning, and safety will help realise the potential of self-guided interventions., Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610001058066.
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF