Incorporating a Stepped Care Approach into Electronic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: Depression is a leading cause of disability, annually affecting up to 300 million people worldwide, yet fewer than one third of patients receive care. Electronic cognitive behavioural therapy (e-CBT) is an effective treatment for depression. A stepped care model is a care model that begins treatment with the least resource intensive, yet effective, method while adapting care based on patients’ needs. This study investigated the efficacy of a stepped care e-CBT model for depression through the reduction of depressive symptoms. We hypothesized that the stepped care group will outperform the e-CBT only group. Participants were randomized to either the e-CBT only group (n = 28) or the e-CBT with stepped care group (n = 28). Both groups received a 13-weeks e-CBT program tailored to depression through a secure, online mental health platform called the Online Psychotherapy Tool (OPTT). Participants in the stepped care group received additional interventions based on their standard questionnaire scores and textual data. From lowest to highest intensity, the interventions included messages, phone calls, video calls, or a video call with a psychiatrist. For this study, 56 participants were recruited to complete an e-CBT only program (mean age = 38.9, 26.9% male) or e-CBT with stepped care program (mean age = 40.6, 42.4% male). The e-CBT program was effective in significantly reducing depressive symptoms; however, there were no significant differences in the reduction of depressive symptoms between the two groups. Although there were no significant differences observed between the number of participants who completed the program between groups, participants in the stepped care group, on average, took part in two more sessions than those who prematurely terminated participation in the e-CBT only group. Implementing a stepped care approach into e-CBT is an effective treatment for depression and the stepped care model can assist patients to complete more sessions in their treatment.
Author: Jagayat, Jasleen K.
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7057100601