Effects of a cognitive behavioral self-help program and a computerized structured writing intervention on depressed mood for HIV-infected people: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether low-resource, cost-effective intervention programs can be effective in improving depressed mood in people with HIV. The efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral self-help program (CBS) and a computerized structured writing intervention (SWI) were tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial. Participants were members of a patient organization. They completed a pretest and posttest. The questionnaire included the HADS. Participants were randomly allocated to CBS (n=24), SWI (n=25) or a waiting list condition (WLC, n=24). To evaluate changes in the continuous outcome measure, a 3 x 2 (group x time) repeated measures ANCOVA was performed. Also, an ANCOVA was performed using change scores. Respondents who followed the CBS improved significantly compared to the WLC. However, for people in the SWI condition no significant improvement on depression was found. This pilot study suggests that a low-resource, cost-effective CBS program seems to be effective in reducing depressed mood in people living with HIV. Because self-help programs can be delivered through regular mail or the internet, a high number of people could be reached while overcoming geographical and social barriers to treatment.

Kraaij V ，van Emmerik A ，Garnefski N ，Schroevers MJ ，Lo-Fo-Wong D ，van Empelen P ，Dusseldorp E ，Witlox R ，Maes S ... -  《-》

Effects of a cognitive behavioral self-help program on depressed mood for people with acquired chronic physical impairments: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Aim was to examine whether a new cognitive-behavioral self-help intervention program was effective in improving depressed mood in people with acquired chronic physical impairments. Participants were 32 persons with acquired chronic physical impairments and depressive symptoms, who were randomly allocated to the Cognitive-Behavioral Self-help program (CBS) or the Waiting List Control group (WLC). Depression scores were assessed at three measurement moments: at pretest, immediately after completion of the intervention (posttest), and again two months later (follow-up). To evaluate changes in depression scores, Repeated Measures ANCOVA's were performed. It was shown that respondents who followed the CBS significantly improved compared to the WLC after completion of the program, and that this positive effect remained at 2-months follow-up. A cognitive-behavioral self-help intervention can be an effective tool to reduce depressive symptoms in people with physical impairments. A self-help program may prove to be more cost-effective for individuals and for the health care system as a whole. In addition, because a self-help intervention program can be delivered through mail or internet, a high number of people could be reached while overcoming geographical and social barriers to treatment.

Garnefski N ，Kraaij V ，Schroevers M 《-》

Effects of a Cognitive Behavioral Self-help program on emotional problems for people with acquired hearing loss: a randomized controlled trial.

Garnefski N ，Kraaij V 《-》

Internet-based treatment of depression: a randomized controlled trial comparing guided with unguided self-help.

Berger T ，Hämmerli K ，Gubser N ，Andersson G ，Caspar F ... -  《-》

Internet administered guided self-help versus individualized e-mail therapy: A randomized trial of two versions of CBT for major depression.

Internet-delivered psychological treatment of major depression has been investigated in several trials, but the role of personalized treatment is less investigated. Studies suggest that guidance is important and that automated computerized programmes without therapist support are less effective. Individualized e-mail therapy for depression has not been studied in a controlled trial. Eighty-eight individuals with major depression were randomized to two different forms of Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), or to a waiting-list control group. One form of Internet treatment consisted of guided self-help, with weekly modules and homework assignments. Standard CBT components were presented and brief support was provided during the treatment. The other group received e-mail therapy, which was tailored and did not use the self-help texts i.e., all e-mails were written for the unique patient. Both treatments lasted for 8 weeks. In the guided self-help 93% completed (27/29) and in the e-mail therapy 96% (29/30) completed the posttreatment assessment. Results showed significant symptom reductions in both treatment groups with moderate to large effect sizes. At posttreatment 34.5% of the guided self-help group and 30% of the e-mail therapy group reached the criteria of high-end-state functioning (Beck Depression Inventory score below 9). At six-month follow-up the corresponding figures were 47.4% and 43.3%. Overall, the difference between guided self-help and e-mail therapy was small, but in favour of the latter. These findings indicate that both guided self-help and individualized e-mail therapy can be effective.

Vernmark K ，Lenndin J ，Bjärehed J ，Carlsson M ，Karlsson J ，Oberg J ，Carlbring P ，Eriksson T ，Andersson G ... -  《-》