["iFightDepression" in inpatient treatment : Evaluation of a web-based, therapist-guided self-management program on...

E‑mental health mainly plays a role in the outpatient treatment of patients with depressive disorders. The goal of this study was to implement and evaluate the web-based, therapist-guided self-management tool "iFightDepression" (iFD) to clarify if there is a benefit for inpatient use.

In this study 78 inpatients with affective disorders (ICD-10 F32.0‑3, F33.0-3) or dysthymia (F34) were recruited. The intervention duration with the iFD tool went from admission until discharge, therapeutic support was granted by the ward staff. Symptom severity, intervention expectations and experience with therapy were processed in an online questionnaire before the intervention (T0) while intervention satisfaction was captured after the intervention shortly before discharge (T1) in a paper-pencil questionnaire.

Out of 78 participating inpatients 42 used the iFD tool at least once. Moderate to high levels of expectation regarding the iFD tool and mildly above-average level of satisfaction after the intervention were observed. Of the active users 67% indicated they would continue to use the iFD tool after discharge. The main reasons for not using the iFD tool were short duration of stay, severity of disease and lack of digital literacy.

An implementation of the iFD tool is feasible on principle. Active users gave positive feedback concerning the intervention and most participants claimed to continue using the iFD tool after discharge; however, low usage rates among study participants (42/78, 54%) showed barriers of implementation that have to be addressed and underline the importance of adaptations regarding the use of the intervention in a clinical setting.