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Related Experiment Videos

Internet support groups for depression: a 1-year prospective cohort study.

Thomas K Houston1, Lisa A Cooper, Daniel E Ford

  • 1Department of Medicine, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2024 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

The American Journal of Psychiatry
|November 27, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Heavy users of online depression support groups showed greater symptom improvement. These internet-based interventions may supplement traditional depression care for socially isolated individuals.

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Area of Science:

  • Mental Health
  • Digital Health
  • Online Support Groups

Background:

  • Internet-based depression support groups offer accessible resources for individuals with depression.
  • Understanding user characteristics and the impact of these groups is crucial for optimizing mental health care.
  • Many individuals with depression experience social isolation, highlighting the need for supportive interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize users of internet-based depression support groups.
  • To determine if participation in these groups predicts changes in depression symptoms and social support.
  • To assess the perceived benefits and usage patterns of online depression support.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 103 users of internet-based depression support groups.

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  • Data collected via internet surveys at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
  • Assessed demographic characteristics, support group usage, depression care, social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey), and depression severity (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale - CES-D Scale).

    • Main Results:

    • Users were predominantly women (78.6%), with a median age of 40, and high depression severity (86.4% CES-D Scale score >22).
    • Over 50% were heavy users (≥5 hours/2 weeks), with 37.9% preferring online over face-to-face communication.
    • Heavy users were more likely to achieve depression symptom resolution (CES-D Scale score ≤22) compared to less frequent users, after adjusting for covariates. Social support scores remained unchanged.

    Conclusions:

    • Users of internet depression support groups often present with severe depression and social isolation.
    • These online groups are perceived as beneficial and may help supplement traditional depression care.
    • Further research is warranted to explore the role of internet depression support groups in comprehensive mental health treatment.