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Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Life Skills Program for Depression: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Christopher Williams1, Carrie-Anne McClay1, Rebeca Martinez2
1Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
JMIR Formative Research
|February 17, 2022
Summary
This pilot study demonstrated that an online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) life skills course effectively recruits and retains participants with depression. The findings support its use in a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) for depression treatment.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health
- Psychology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Depression is a prevalent mental health issue with significant consequences.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is effective but often inaccessible due to limited practitioner availability.
- Low-intensity interventions, such as online guided self-help, can improve service access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an online CBT-based life skills course for community-based individuals with depression.
- To assess the feasibility of recruitment, randomization, and intervention delivery.
- To gather data for sample size calculation for a future substantive RCT.
Main Methods:
- Community participants with depression symptoms were recruited via newspaper advertisements.
- Participants were randomized to immediate or delayed access to an online CBT package with telephone support.
- Outcomes assessed at 3 months included depression, anxiety, social functioning, and satisfaction.
Main Results:
- Effective recruitment, randomization, and uptake were achieved.
- The online intervention was acceptable to participants, with a mean satisfaction score of 21/32.
- Data collection success rate was 78%, informing a power calculation for a future RCT requiring 72 participants.
Conclusions:
- The pilot study successfully validated the research design for recruitment, data collection, and intervention delivery.
- The study provided essential data for determining the sample size for a full-scale RCT.
- This approach shows promise for increasing access to CBT-based interventions for depression.
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