An open trial in the NHS of Blues Begone: a new home based computerized CBT program

Computer based treatment for depression and anxiety has been available for several years and has demonstrated useful clinical effects. Most existing computerized CBT products in the UK that are designed to treat depression and co-morbid anxiety require patients to visit a clinic and require staff input to manage the process. Such intervention adds to the costs and bottlenecks in delivering a clinically effective treatment with mass availability. Internet treatment options are becoming more readily available, although data to support use are not yet strong, and most still require human assessment and telephone support. Blues Begone is a new computerized CBT program that has been designed to be used at home with minimal human support.

This pilot project provides data from an open trial of Blues Begone with both primary and secondary care patients.

One hundred patients started Blues Begone, 58 completed the program, 72% (n = 42) of completers achieved reliable change and (n = 36) 62% achieved both reliable and clinically significant change, and may be considered to have recovered by the end of the program.

These data provide the first demonstration of the potential viability of Blues Begone as a home based computerized treatment for depression and anxiety.