Efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression in people with epilepsy: a randomized controlled trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression in people with epilepsy: a randomized controlled trial

AU - Schröder, Johanna

AU - Brückner, Katja

AU - Fischer, Anja

AU - Lindenau, Matthias

AU - Köther, Ulf

AU - Vettorazzi, Eik

AU - Moritz, Steffen

N1 - Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2014 International League Against Epilepsy.

PY - 2014/12/1

Y1 - 2014/12/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in persons with epilepsy (PWEs). Despite its major impact on quality of life and risk of suicide, most PWEs are not treated for depression. A current challenge in mental health care is how to close this treatment gap and increase access to psychological services. Psychological online interventions (POIs) have shown efficacy in improving depression among individuals without neurologic disorders. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression (Deprexis) in PWEs who have symptoms of depression.METHODS: Participants with self-reported epilepsy and subjective complaints of depressive symptoms were randomized to an intervention condition (Deprexis) or to a waiting list control (WLC) condition. After 9 weeks, participants were invited to complete an online reassessment.RESULTS: Relative to the waiting list group, program users experienced a significant symptom decline on the Beck Depression Inventory - I (BDI-I, primary outcome) with a moderate effect size in the complete observations analysis and a small effect size in the intention-to-treat analysis. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement with a moderate effect size on the "energy/fatigue" subscale of the Quality of Life In Epilepsy Inventory - 31 (QOLIE-31).SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this trial suggest that POIs may be a feasible and beneficial tool for PWEs who have comorbid depressive symptoms.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in persons with epilepsy (PWEs). Despite its major impact on quality of life and risk of suicide, most PWEs are not treated for depression. A current challenge in mental health care is how to close this treatment gap and increase access to psychological services. Psychological online interventions (POIs) have shown efficacy in improving depression among individuals without neurologic disorders. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression (Deprexis) in PWEs who have symptoms of depression.METHODS: Participants with self-reported epilepsy and subjective complaints of depressive symptoms were randomized to an intervention condition (Deprexis) or to a waiting list control (WLC) condition. After 9 weeks, participants were invited to complete an online reassessment.RESULTS: Relative to the waiting list group, program users experienced a significant symptom decline on the Beck Depression Inventory - I (BDI-I, primary outcome) with a moderate effect size in the complete observations analysis and a small effect size in the intention-to-treat analysis. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement with a moderate effect size on the "energy/fatigue" subscale of the Quality of Life In Epilepsy Inventory - 31 (QOLIE-31).SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this trial suggest that POIs may be a feasible and beneficial tool for PWEs who have comorbid depressive symptoms.

KW - Adult

KW - Depression

KW - Epilepsy

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Online Systems

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Psychotherapeutic Processes

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Treatment Outcome

U2 - 10.1111/epi.12833

DO - 10.1111/epi.12833

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 25410633

VL - 55

SP - 2069

EP - 2076

JO - EPILEPSIA

JF - EPILEPSIA

SN - 0013-9580

IS - 12

ER -