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A clinical audit of changes in suicide ideas with internet treatment for depression
Sarah Watts1, Jill M Newby, Louise Mewton
1Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
Objectives:
To examine reductions in suicidal ideation among a sample of patients who were prescribed an internet cognitive behavior therapy (iCBT) course for depression.
Design:
Effectiveness study within a quality assurance framework.
Setting:
Primary care.
Participants:
299 patients who were prescribed an iCBT course for depression by primary care clinicians.
Intervention:
Six lesson, fully automated cognitive behaviour therapy course delivered over the internet.
Primary Outcome:
suicidal ideation as measured by question 9 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
Results:
Suicidal ideation was common (54%) among primary care patients prescribed iCBT treatment for depression but dropped to 30% post-treatment despite minimal clinician contact and the absence of an intervention focused on suicidal ideation. This reduction in suicidal ideation was evident regardless of sex and age.
Conclusions:
The findings do not support the exclusion of patients with significant suicidal ideation.
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