The primary objective of this study is to test in a randomized effectiveness trial if e-mail delivered cognitive behavioural treatment is an effective follow-up care approach in the treatment of depression under clinically representative conditions.
Depression belongs to the most prevalent mental disorders and often goes along with a high burden of disease. Although the efficacy and the effectiveness of psychological treatments for depressive disorders have been demonstrated, there remains the problem of maintaining the benefits achieved during the initial treatment phase. Therefore options of follow-up care have to be considered. Since access to psychotherapeutic treatments is limited and costly, internet-based interventions can offer a feasible opportunity for follow-up care in order to enhance the long-term effectiveness of psychotherapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
92
After having terminated inpatient CBT patients receive follow up care by email for 12 weeks (on average one contact per week). The follow up care aims at supporting the patients in continuing exercises in order to cope with depression.
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Centre of Psychosocial Medicine, Department of Medical Psychology
Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany
Measure of the severity of depression - Beck Depression Inventory (BDI- II)
Time frame: Change in the BDI-II from baseline (beginning of treatment) to follow up (3 months after termination of the follow-up care)
Measure of health related quality of life - SF-8
SF-8: short version of the SF -36
Time frame: Change in the SF-8 from baseline (beginning of treatment) to follow up (3 months after termination of the follow-up care
GAD-7
Measure for generalized anxiety disorder
Time frame: Change in the GAD-7 from baseline (beginning of treatment) to follow up (3 months after termination of the follow-up care)
Depressive relapse/recurrence
Time frame: Measured at follow up (3 months after termination of the follow-up care)
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