Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Effectiveness of Web-based Psychological Interventions for Depression: A Meta-analysis

Effectiveness of Web-based Psychological Interventions for Depression: A Meta-analysis Web-based psychological interventions aim to make psychological treatments more accessible and minimize clinician input, but their effectiveness requires further examination. The purposes of the present study are to evaluate the outcomes of web-based interventions for treating depressed adults using meta-analytic techniques, and to examine moderating effects on these interventions. A random-effects analysis yielded a medium effect of web-based interventions compared to controls, with a significant reduction in depression and improvement in well-being. Regression analysis revealed moderating effects of human support and inclusion of reminders in treatments for depression. Also, mean attrition rates were similar to face-to-face treatment, moderated by inclusion of human support. Future research on client suitability and clinical significance are needed. Trials on web-based interventions are encouraged to address quality constraints apparent in existing studies, namely the need for explicit acknowledgment of multiple publications, ensuring quality of control groups, and careful reporting of methods and results. It was concluded that web-based interventions are effective ways of treating depression and enhancing well-being, particularly if supplemented with personal engagement. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Springer Journals

Effectiveness of Web-based Psychological Interventions for Depression: A Meta-analysis

Download PDF
22 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/springer-journals/effectiveness-of-web-based-psychological-interventions-for-depression-JtO6dJ0oGM

References (86)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by Springer Science+Business Media New York
Subject
Medicine & Public Health; Public Health; Health Psychology; Psychology, general; Rehabilitation; Psychiatry; Community and Environmental Psychology
ISSN
1557-1874
eISSN
1557-1882
DOI
10.1007/s11469-012-9416-z
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Web-based psychological interventions aim to make psychological treatments more accessible and minimize clinician input, but their effectiveness requires further examination. The purposes of the present study are to evaluate the outcomes of web-based interventions for treating depressed adults using meta-analytic techniques, and to examine moderating effects on these interventions. A random-effects analysis yielded a medium effect of web-based interventions compared to controls, with a significant reduction in depression and improvement in well-being. Regression analysis revealed moderating effects of human support and inclusion of reminders in treatments for depression. Also, mean attrition rates were similar to face-to-face treatment, moderated by inclusion of human support. Future research on client suitability and clinical significance are needed. Trials on web-based interventions are encouraged to address quality constraints apparent in existing studies, namely the need for explicit acknowledgment of multiple publications, ensuring quality of control groups, and careful reporting of methods and results. It was concluded that web-based interventions are effective ways of treating depression and enhancing well-being, particularly if supplemented with personal engagement.

Journal

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction – Springer Journals

Published: Jan 18, 2013

There are no references for this article.