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A systematic review of predictors and moderators of treatment outcomes in internet- and mobile-based interventions for depression
05.08.2024
The review provides an overview of research findings on factors that influence treatment outcomes of digital interventions for depression. The aim is to explain why some people benefit more or less from such services in order to improve their long-term care. A systematic literature search was used to identify studies that have investigated such factors. The results of these studies were summarized and it was found that there were not enough meaningful results for all the factors examined. However, important variables could be, for example, the severity of the depression or changes in symptoms during treatment. In order to be able to make more precise statements in future about which factors influence the success of digital interventions for depression, further high-quality studies are required. In addition, potential influencing factors that have been little investigated to date should also be considered.
Trauma therapy online: What does (not) work? Results of a feasibility study on a self-help intervention for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder
05.08.2024
This study investigated the feasibility of implementing an internet and mobile-based intervention (IMI) based on the self-help principle for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in young people. To this end, various dimensions of feasibility such as recruitment ability, satisfaction and preliminary effectiveness were evaluated in a group of young adults aged between 15 and 21. The IMI is based on the principles of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and is worked on independently by the young people. An eCoach accompanies the participants in the form of written feedback. The results show that the study was able to reach a group of highly stressed young adults who are predominantly female and have experienced interpersonal trauma (e.g. sexual or physical violence). IMI was generally accepted and its sessions were perceived by the majority as helpful, understandable and feasible. At the same time, two thirds of participants dropped out of IMI, increasingly after the start of the trauma processing sessions, which were often rated as difficult. The results on effectiveness indicate a potentially effective intervention for reducing post-traumatic, depressive and anxiety-related symptoms and improving general life satisfaction. Further high-quality studies with control groups in which previously identified factors for improving adherence are implemented are essential for statements on effectiveness.
Internet- and mobile-based psychological interventions for post-traumatic stress symptoms in youth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
11.03.2024
This study systematically summarizes the current state of research on internet- and mobile-based intervention studies for adolescents with traumatic experiences and analyzes their effectiveness in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms. A total of six studies were found, five of which were included in the meta-analysis. The type of trauma varied greatly between the studies. In the majority of the studies, the adolescents were included regardless of the extent or presence of post-traumatic symptoms and the interventions did not have any trauma-focused treatment components. Meta-analysis showed that the intervention groups were slightly less affected by post-traumatic stress symptoms after the intervention in the pre-post comparison than at the beginning. There was no effect when comparing the control and intervention groups at the post-measurement time. This study indicates in particular that the current state of research in the field of internet and mobile-based interventions for adolescents is insufficient. Further high-quality studies are essential for conclusions on effectiveness.
What to do when the unwanted happens? Negative event management in studies on internet- and mobile-based interventions for youths and adults with two case reports
08.02.2024
This study deals with safety measures in dealing with negative events such as suicidality in internet- and mobile-based intervention studies. Two case reports are used to illustrate detailed strategies and procedures, and recommendations on safety measures for future studies are developed. The results highlight the benefits of a comprehensive approach that incorporates manualized and automated measures in combination with clinical judgment by study personnel. In addition, the establishment of an emergency contact from the participants' close environment is emphasized. When implementing internet and mobile-based interventions, it is important to balance safety measures with scalability and low-threshold accessibility.