TY  - JOUR
AU  - Jagayat, Jasleen Kaur
AU  - Kumar, Anchan
AU  - Shao, Yijia
AU  - Pannu, Amrita
AU  - Patel, Charmy
AU  - Shirazi, Amirhossein
AU  - Omrani, Mohsen
AU  - Alavi, Nazanin
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/2/9
TI  - Incorporating a Stepped Care Approach Into Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial
JO  - JMIR Ment Health
SP  - e51704
VL  - 11
KW  - internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy
KW  - i-CBT
KW  - major depressive disorder
KW  - MDD
KW  - stepped care
KW  - digital mental health care
KW  - mobile phone
AB  - Background: Depression is a hidden burden, yet it is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite the adverse effects of depression, fewer than one-third of patients receive care. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (i-CBT) is an effective treatment for depression, and combining i-CBT with supervised care could make the therapy scalable and effective. A stepped care model is a framework for beginning treatment with an effective and low-intensity intervention while adapting care based on the patient’s needs. Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of a stepped care i-CBT model for depression based on changes in self-reported depressive symptoms. Methods: In this single-blinded, randomized controlled trial, participants were allocated to either the i-CBT–only group (28/56, 50%) or the i-CBT with stepped care group (28/56, 50%). Both groups received a 13-week i-CBT program tailored for depression. The i-CBT program was provided through a secure, online mental health clinic called the Online Psychotherapy Tool. Participants read through the sessions and completed the assignments related to each session. Participants in the stepped care group received additional interventions from their care provider based on standard questionnaire scores (ie, Patient Health Questionnaire–9 [PHQ-9], Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology [QIDS], and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire–Short Form) and their assignment responses. From lowest to highest intensity, the additional interventions included SMS text messages, phone calls, video calls, or a video call with a psychiatrist. Results: For this study, 56 participants were recruited to complete an i-CBT program (n=28, 50%; mean age 37.9; SD 13.08 y; 7/28, 27% were men) or an i-CBT with stepped care program (n=28, 50%; mean age 40.6; SD 14.28 y; 11/28, 42% were men). The results of this study indicate that the i-CBT program was effective in significantly reducing depressive symptoms, as measured by the PHQ-9 (F4,80=9.95; P<.001) and QIDS (F2,28=5.73; P=.008); however, there were no significant differences in the reduction of depressive symptoms between the 2 groups (PHQ-9: F4,80=0.43; P=.78; QIDS: F2,28=3.05; P=.06). The stepped care group was not significantly better in reducing depressive symptoms than the i-CBT group (PHQ-9, P=.79; QIDS, P=.06). Although there were no significant differences observed between the number of participants who completed the program between the groups (χ21=2.6; P=.10), participants in the stepped care group, on average, participated in more sessions than those who prematurely terminated participation in the i-CBT group (t55=−2; P=.03; 95% CI –4.83 to –0.002). Conclusions: Implementing a stepped care approach in i-CBT is an effective treatment for depression, and the stepped care model can assist patients to complete more sessions in their treatment. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04747873; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04747873 
SN  - 2368-7959
UR  - https://mental.jmir.org/2024/1/e51704
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/51704
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38173167
DO  - 10.2196/51704
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/51704
ER  -