JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

About 70% of mental health disorders appear prior to 25 years of age and can become chronic when ineffectively treated. Individuals between 18 and 25 years are significantly more likely to experience mental health disorders, substance dependencies and suicidality. Treatment progress, capitalizing on the tendencies of youth to communicate online can strategically address depressive disorders.

Objective:

Objective:

We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared online mindfulness-oriented cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-M), combined with standard psychiatric care, to standard psychiatric care alone in youth (i.e., 18–30 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder.

Methods:

Methods:

45 participants were randomly assigned to CBT-M (n = 22) or to standard psychiatric care (n = 23). All participants were provided standard psychiatric care (i.e., about 1 session per month). Experimental participants received an additional intervention consisting of the CBT-M online software program. Interaction with online workbooks was combined with navigation-coaching delivered by phone and secure text messaging.

Results:

In a 2-level linear mixed-effects model intention-to-treat analysis, significant between group differences were found for Beck Depression Inventory-II (difference=-8.54, P=0.012), Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (difference=-4.94, p=0.001), Beck Anxiety Inventory (difference=-11.29, p< .001), Brief Pain Inventory (difference=-1.99, p=0.026), while marginal differences were found for Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire–Non-Judging subscale (difference=-2.68, p=0.049).

Conclusions:

Conclusions:

These results confirm that youth depression can be effectively treated with online CBT-M and that effective online CBT-M can be delivered with less geographic restriction.