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Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders are prevalent in adolescents and young adults. However, the majority of youths with mental health problems do not receive treatment. Computerized cognitive behavior therapy (cCBT) may provide an accessible alternative to face-to-face treatment. However, the evidence base on cCBT in youths remains limited compared to research in adults. Objective: The objective of this study was to provide an up-to-date comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of cCBT in treating anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults compared to passive and active control groups. We aimed to examine both post-treatment and follow-up effects, and to explore moderators of treatment effects. Methods: We conducted systematic searches in six electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized controlled trials were included that compared cCBT with any control group in adolescents or young adults (with mean age between 12 and 25 years) with anxiety or depressive symptoms. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, version 2.0. The overall quality of the evidence for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Post-treatment means and standard deviations were compared between the intervention and control groups, and pooled effect sizes (Hedges’ g) were calculated. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Furthermore, we conducted subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses to explore whether the study characteristics age, type of control group, level of guidance, recruitment setting, and treatment duration were associated with treatment outcome. Results: The database search resulted in 7670 papers. Twenty-four studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Most studies (22/24) had a high risk of bias due to the use of self-report measures and/or inappropriate handling of missing data. cCBT yielded small to medium post-treatment pooled effect sizes on anxiety symptoms (g=0.44; numbers-needed-to-treat [NNT]=4.10) and depressive symptoms (g=0.46; NNT=3.91). Subgroup analyses showed cCBT to yield a larger effect size compared to passive controls (g=0.54) than compared to active controls (g=0.02; P=0.008) on anxiety, but not depressive symptoms. No other moderators were identified. We found a small effect size for cCBT on depressive symptoms at long-term follow-up (g=0.27). No other significant follow-up effects were found; however, power to detect small differences was limited due to the small number of studies reporting follow-up data. Conclusions: cCBT appears beneficial for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms at post-treatment in adolescents and young adults. However, more high-quality research in this population is needed: future studies should minimize risk of bias, and should include both active control conditions and long-term follow-up assessments.

The two objectives of this study were to determine the acceptability of the microfiche format as a medium for reading technical reports among a representative group of engineers and scientists, and to measure the effects of using this medium as the reading habits of the group. (6 references) (Author)

Background: In 1999, an extensive study among bell pepper growers showed a prevalence of 53.8% work-related symptoms and 35.4% sensitisation to bell pepper pollen. Experiments with bees to remove pollen from bell pepper flowers have been done for a few years. Objectives: It was the aim of this study to investigate whether bees can reduce the pollen exposure in bell pepper greenhouses and whether this reduction results in a decrease in allergic complaints in the greenhouse workers. Methods: Eighteen greenhouses were selected for the study. In each greenhouse, pollen exposure was estimated. In 6 and 3 of the greenhouses, high, respectively low, numbers of honeybees were placed throughout the pollen season of the sweet bell pepper plant. Nine greenhouses without honeybees were used as control. At baseline, as well as after 4 and 8 months, nasal symptoms assessed with a visual analogue score and lung function parameters were used as outcome measure. Results: Forty-four of the 133 employees invited reported work-related symptoms. High numbers of bees reduced the pollen amount in a dose-dependent way to 18% of the baseline exposure. A significant trend relationship between the visual analogue scale in nasal symptoms and the number of colonies of bees was seen. Conclusions: The interference of bees in bell pepper greenhouses significantly reduces the pollen amount. This reduction is associated with less work-related rhinitis symptoms in allergic greenhouse workers. This intervention study supports the hypothesis that allergic work-related complaints of greenhouse workers, sensitised to bell pepper pollen, are caused by occupational exposure to this pollen in the greenhouse.