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Effectiveness of a Web-Based Intervention in Reducing Depression and Sickness Absence: Randomized Controlled Trial
Till Beiwinkel1, Tabea Eißing1, Nils-Torge Telle1
1Innovation Incubator, Competence Tandem Integrated Care, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|June 17, 2017
Summary
A web-based intervention effectively reduced depressive symptoms in working adults experiencing sickness absence. Further research with larger samples is recommended to confirm these findings for depression treatment.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health
- Digital Health
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Depression is common in the workforce, leading to significant work absences.
- Access to evidence-based depression treatments remains a challenge for many employees.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of a web-based intervention for reducing depression and sickness absence.
- To evaluate a digital mental health solution for the working population.
Main Methods:
- An open-label randomized controlled trial compared a 12-week web-based program with therapist support to a wait-list control group receiving psycho-education.
- Primary outcomes included depressive symptoms (PHQ-9, BDI-II) and sickness absence data from health insurance records.
- Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted.
Main Results:
- The web-based intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms (PHQ-9: d=0.55, BDI-II: d=0.41) compared to the control group.
- Clinical significance was higher in the intervention group, with 63% responding to treatment (NNT=4.08).
- Both groups showed reduced work absence frequency, but no significant difference between groups was observed.
Conclusions:
- The web-based intervention demonstrates efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms in working adults with sickness absence.
- Larger trials are needed to confirm these results due to lower-than-expected statistical power.
- The utility of health insurance records for eHealth outcome measurement requires further validation.
