This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by ANDERSSON, G.
Right arrow Articles by EKSELIUS, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by ANDERSSON, G.
Right arrow Articles by EKSELIUS, L.
The British Journal of Psychiatry (2005) 187: 456-461
© 2005 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Internet-based self-help for depression: randomised controlled trial

GERHARD ANDERSSON, PhD

Department of Behavioural Sciences, Linköping University

JAN BERGSTRÖM, MSc

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm

FREDRIK HOLLÄNDARE, MSc, PER CARLBRING, PhD, VIKTOR KALDO, MSc and LISA EKSELIUS, MD, PhD

Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

Correspondence: Professor Gerhard Andersson, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. Fax: +46 (0) 13 28 21 45; e-mail: Gerhard.Andersson{at}ibv.liu.se

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background Major depression can be treated by means of cognitive – behavioural therapy, but as skilled therapists are in short supply there is a need for self-help approaches. Many individuals with depression use the internet for discussion of symptoms and to share their experience.

Aims To investigate the effects of an internet-administered self-help programme including participation in a monitored, web-based discussion group, compared with participation in web-based discussion group only.

Method A randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare the effects of internet-based cognitive–behavioural therapy with minimal therapist contact (plus participation in a discussion group) with the effects of participation in a discussion group only.

Results Internet-based therapy with minimal therapist contact, combined with activity in a discussion group, resulted in greater reductions of depressive symptoms compared with activity in a discussion group only (waiting-list control group). At 6 months’ follow-up, improvement was maintained to a large extent.

Conclusions Internet-delivered cognitive cognitive–behavioural therapy should be pursued further as a complement or treatment alternative for mild-to-moderate depression.


Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue
SUKHWINDER S. SHERGILL
BJP 2005 187: 395-a17. [Full Text]  

PETER TYRER
BJP 2005 187: 494. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 cfpHome page
J. L. McNaughton
Brief interventions for depression in primary care: A systematic review
Can Fam Physician, August 1, 2009; 55(8): 789 - 796.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
L. E. de Graaf, S. A. H. Gerhards, A. Arntz, H. Riper, J. F. M. Metsemakers, S. M. A. A. Evers, J. L. Severens, G. Widdershoven, and M. J. H. Huibers
Clinical effectiveness of online computerised cognitive-behavioural therapy without support for depression in primary care: randomised trial
The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2009; 195(1): 73 - 80.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
G. Andersson and P. Cuijpers
Pros and cons of online cognitive-behavioural therapy
The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2008; 193(4): 270 - 271.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
J. Powell and A. Clarke
Internet information-seeking in mental health: Population survey
The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2006; 189(3): 273 - 277.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychiatr. NewsHome page
J. Rosack
CBT Plus Online Chat May Equal Help in Depression
Psychiatr News, December 16, 2005; 40(24): 20 - 20.
[Full Text]