Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
13:18
Robotically Delivered fMRI-Guided Personalized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Published on: April 10, 2026
A randomized controlled trial of internet-based therapy in depression
Steffen Moritz1, Lisa Schilling, Marit Hauschildt
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. moritz@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|June 9, 2012
Summary
Internet-based interventions offer effective treatment for depression. An online self-help program significantly reduced depressive symptoms in participants compared to a wait-list control group.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Digital Health
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Depression is a leading global health concern.
- Barriers to traditional treatment necessitate accessible alternatives.
- Internet-based interventions are emerging as a solution to reach underserved populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an online self-help depression program called Deprexis.
- To compare outcomes between participants using the program and a wait-list control group.
Main Methods:
- An internet-based randomized controlled trial (NCT01401296) was conducted.
- Participants with elevated depressive symptoms were randomized to receive the Deprexis program or a wait-list control.
- Clinical diagnoses were confirmed in a subgroup; reminders and incentives improved completion rates.
Main Results:
- Program users showed significant reductions in depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) compared to the control group.
- Improvements were also noted on measures of dysfunctional attitudes, quality of life, and self-esteem.
- Symptom decline was particularly significant for individuals with moderate baseline symptoms and those not receiving concurrent therapy.
Conclusions:
- Online self-help programs, like Deprexis, are effective in treating depression.
- These digital interventions show particular promise for individuals with moderate depression symptoms.
- Internet-based treatments can successfully bridge the gap in accessing mental health care.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:25Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...