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Zwerenz R, Baumgarten C, Becker J, Tibubos A, Siepmann M, Knickenberg RJ, Beutel ME
Improving the Course of Depressive Symptoms After Inpatient Psychotherapy Using Adjunct Web-Based Self-Help: Follow-Up Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Does adjunct online self-help improve the course of depression after inpatient psychotherapy? - Follow-up results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Rüdiger Zwerenz;
Carlotta Baumgarten;
Jan Becker;
Ana Tibubos;
Martin Siepmann;
Rudolf J. Knickenberg;
Manfred E. Beutel
ABSTRACT
Background:
As we could recently show in a randomized controlled trial, online self-help as an adjunct improved the effectiveness of inpatient psychotherapy for depression.
Objective:
We now determined whether blended care could also improve the course of depression and tried to identify predictors of residual depression at follow-up.
Methods:
Overall N = 229 patients were randomized either to the online self-help intervention group (IG; Deprexis®), or an active control group (CG; online information about depression) in addition to inpatient psychotherapy. Both conditions terminated after 12 weeks (T2), outlasting discharge from inpatient therapy (average duration of 40 days; T1). Follow-up was performed 6 months after study intake (T3).
Results:
At follow-up, participants of the online self-help group had considerably lower symptom load regarding depression (d = 0.58), anxiety (d = 0.46), and better quality of life (d = 0.43) and self-esteem (d = 0.31) than CG. IG achieved more recovery and less deterioration. Number needed to treat (NNT) based on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) improved over time (T1: 7.84; T2: 7.09; T3: 5.12). Significant outcome predictors were BDI at discharge and treatment group.
Conclusions:
Online self-help as an add-on to inpatient psychotherapy improved the short-term course of depression beyond termination. Residual symptoms at discharge from inpatient treatment were the major predictor of depression at follow-up. Clinical Trial: Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02196896, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02196896
Citation
Please cite as:
Zwerenz R, Baumgarten C, Becker J, Tibubos A, Siepmann M, Knickenberg RJ, Beutel ME
Improving the Course of Depressive Symptoms After Inpatient Psychotherapy Using Adjunct Web-Based Self-Help: Follow-Up Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
