Two-year outcome of internet-based relapse prevention for partially remitted depression

• Published in: Behaviour research and therapy 2013-11, Vol.51 (11), p.719-722
• Main Authors: Holländare, Fredrik, A. Anthony, Susanne, Randestad, Mia, Tillfors, Maria, Carlbring, Per, Andersson, Gerhard, Engström, Ingemar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical outcomes; Cognitive therapy; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Depression; Depression - prevention & control; Depression - therapy; Diagnostic testing; Guided self-help; Humans; Internet; Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy; Intervention; Long term effects; Major depression; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Mood disorders; Prevention; Preventive medicine; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psykologi; Relapse; Relapse prevention; Remission; Remission, Spontaneous; Secondary Prevention; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods; Treatment Outcome; Treatments
• ISSN: 0005-7967; 1873-622X; 1873-622X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2013.08.002

The objective of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of internet-based relapse prevention for sufferers of partially remitted depression. Eighty-four individuals with partially remitted unipolar depression were randomized to either internet-based CBT (iCBT) or to a control group. After the ten week intervention period the participants were followed for 24 months and diagnostic interviews conducted to detect relapse. The intervention and monthly self-ratings of depressive symptoms were administered via an internet-based platform that ensured secure communication with all participants. Significantly fewer participants in the iCBT group had experienced a relapse compared with those in the control group two years after the internet-based intervention. The relapse rate in the iCBT group was 13.7% (CI 95% = 2.5–24.9) and in the control group it was 60.9% (CI 95% = 44.8–77). Furthermore, a significantly larger proportion of the iCBT group experienced remission two years after the intervention compared with the control group. Internet-based CBT seems promising for preventing relapse in sufferers of partially remitted depression. •iCBT reduced the relapse rate compared to a control condition during a two-year follow-up.•The protective effect from iCBT was not significantly moderated by medication status.•Full remission after two years was more prevalent in the iCBT-group compared to controls.