Helmholtz Gemeinschaft

Search
Browse
Statistics
Feeds

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy programme to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial

[img]
Preview
PDF (Original Article) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
669kB
[img]
Preview
PDF (Supplementary Data) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
3MB

Item Type:Article
Title:Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy programme to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial
Creators Name:Gold, S.M. and Friede, T. and Meyer, B. and Moss-Morris, R. and Hudson, J. and Asseyer, S. and Bellmann-Strobl, J. and Leisdon, A. and Ißels, L. and Ritter, K. and Schymainski, D. and Pomeroy, H. and Lynch, S.G. and Cozart, J.S. and Thelen, J. and Román, C.A.F. and Cadden, M. and Guty, E. and Lau, S. and Pöttgen, J. and Ramien, C. and Seddiq-Zai, S. and Kloidt, A.M. and Wieditz, J. and Penner, I.K. and Paul, F. and Sicotte, N.L. and Bruce, J.M. and Arnett, P.A. and Heesen, C.
Abstract:BACKGROUND: Depression is three to four times more prevalent in patients with neurological and inflammatory disorders than in the general population. For example, in patients with multiple sclerosis, the 12-month prevalence of major depressive disorder is around 25% and it is associated with a lower quality of life, faster disease progression, and higher morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical relevance, there are few treatment options for depression associated with multiple sclerosis and confirmatory trials are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a multiple sclerosis-specific, internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) programme for the treatment of depressive symptoms associated with the disease. METHODS: This parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial of an iCBT programme to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis was carried out at five academic centres with large outpatient care units in Germany and the USA. Patients with a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and depressive symptoms were randomly assigned (1:1:1; automated assignment, concealed allocation, no stratification, no blocking) to receive treatment as usual plus one of two versions of the iCBT programme Amiria (stand-alone or therapist-guided) or to a control condition, in which participants received treatment as usual and were offered access to the iCBT programme after 6 months. Masking of participants to group assignment between active treatment and control was not possible, although raters were masked to group assignment. The predefined primary endpoint, which was analysed in the intention-to-treat population, was severity of depressive symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at week 12 after randomisation. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02740361, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between May 3, 2017, and Nov 4, 2020, we screened 485 patients for eligibility. 279 participants were enrolled, of whom 101 were allocated to receive stand-alone iCBT, 85 to receive guided iCBT, and 93 to the control condition. The dropout rate at week 12 was 18% (50 participants). Both versions of the iCBT programme significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared with the control group (BDI-II between-group mean differences: control vs stand-alone iCBT 6·32 points [95% CI 3·37-9·27], p<0·0001, effect size d=0·97 [95% CI 0·64-1·30]; control vs guided iCBT 5·80 points [2·71-8·88], p<0·0001, effect size d=0·96 [0·62-1·30]). Clinically relevant worsening of depressive symptoms was observed in three participants in the control group, one in the stand-alone iCBT group, and none in the guided iCBT group. No occurrences of suicidality were observed during the trial and there were no deaths. INTERPRETATION: This trial provides evidence for the safety and efficacy of a multiple sclerosis-specific iCBT tool to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with the disease. This remote-access, scalable intervention increases the therapeutic options in this patient group and could help to overcome treatment barriers.
Keywords:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Internet, Multiple Sclerosis, Quality of Life
Source:Lancet Digital Health
ISSN:2589-7500
Publisher:Elsevier
Volume:5
Number:10
Page Range:e668-e678
Date:October 2023
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.1016/s2589-7500(23)00109-7
PubMed:View item in PubMed

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Open Access
MDC Library