Nickolai Titov1, Blake F Dear1, Lauren G Staples1, James Bennett-Levy1, Britt Klein1, Ronald M Rapee1, Clare Shann1, David Richards1, Gerhard Andersson1, Lee Ritterband1, Carol Purtell1, Greg Bezuidenhout1, Luke Johnston1, Olav B Nielssen1. 1. Dr. Titov, Dr. Dear, Dr. Staples, Dr. Rapee, and Dr. Johnston are with the Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia (e-mail: nick.titov@mq.edu.au ). They are also with the MindSpot Clinic, Sydney, where Ms. Purtell, Mr. Bezuidenhout, and Dr. Nielssen are affiliated. Dr. Bennett-Levy is with the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Dr. Klein is with the Faculty of Health, Federation University, Victoria, Australia. Ms. Shann is with the Movember Foundation, Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Richards is with the Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom. Dr. Andersson is with the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Dr. Ritterband is with the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to report the feasibility of delivering online cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) treatments for anxiety and depression in a national public mental health service. METHODS: A prospective noncontrolled cohort study was conducted of all patients who began assessment or treatment at the MindSpot Clinic from January through December 2013. Clinic services were used by a representative cross-section of the Australian population. Mean age at assessment was 36.4±13.0 years, and age range was 18-86 years. Patients completed one of four online courses over eight weeks, during which they received weekly support from a therapist via telephone or secure e-mail. Primary outcome measures were the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) administered at posttreatment and three months posttreatment. RESULTS: A total of 10,293 adults who self-identified as having problems with anxiety or depression commenced assessment, and 7,172 completed the assessment and were eligible for analysis. Of these, 2,049 enrolled in a course and 1,471 completed the course, for a course completion rate of 71.8%. Moderate to large noncontrolled effect sizes (Cohen's d=.67-1.66, 95% confidence interval=.08-2.07) were found from assessment to three-month follow-up. At posttreatment and follow-up, reliable recovery ranged from 46.7% to 51.1%, and deterioration ranged from 1.9% to 3.8%. Mean total therapist time per patient was 111.8±61.6 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The MindSpot Clinic produced treatment outcomes that were comparable to results from published clinical trials of iCBT. This model of service delivery represents an innovative method of providing accessible, low-cost, effective, and acceptable mental health services to many people who currently are not receiving care.
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to report the feasibility of delivering online cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) treatments for anxiety and depression in a national public mental health service. METHODS: A prospective noncontrolled cohort study was conducted of all patients who began assessment or treatment at the MindSpot Clinic from January through December 2013. Clinic services were used by a representative cross-section of the Australian population. Mean age at assessment was 36.4±13.0 years, and age range was 18-86 years. Patients completed one of four online courses over eight weeks, during which they received weekly support from a therapist via telephone or secure e-mail. Primary outcome measures were the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) administered at posttreatment and three months posttreatment. RESULTS: A total of 10,293 adults who self-identified as having problems with anxiety or depression commenced assessment, and 7,172 completed the assessment and were eligible for analysis. Of these, 2,049 enrolled in a course and 1,471 completed the course, for a course completion rate of 71.8%. Moderate to large noncontrolled effect sizes (Cohen's d=.67-1.66, 95% confidence interval=.08-2.07) were found from assessment to three-month follow-up. At posttreatment and follow-up, reliable recovery ranged from 46.7% to 51.1%, and deterioration ranged from 1.9% to 3.8%. Mean total therapist time per patient was 111.8±61.6 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The MindSpot Clinic produced treatment outcomes that were comparable to results from published clinical trials of iCBT. This model of service delivery represents an innovative method of providing accessible, low-cost, effective, and acceptable mental health services to many people who currently are not receiving care.
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