Internet-based treatment for young people with depression outperforms usual care, trial finds
An internet-based treatment supported by a therapist led to a greater reduction in depressive symptoms among adolescents with depression than standard care, at a lower treatment cost. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal BMJ Mental Health. At the same time, the results suggest that a self-guided internet-based treatment may be a cost-effective…
A new trial from Karolinska Institutet reveals that internet-based therapy with therapist support leads to greater improvement in depressive symptoms among adolescents compared to standard care. The study, published in BMJ Mental Health, involved 219 Swedish youths aged 13-17 with mild-to-moderate depression. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either therapist-supported internet-based treatment, therapist-free internet-based treatment, or usual care within existing mental health services.
Over a 10-week period, all treatment groups showed a decrease in depressive symptoms at a 3-month follow-up. The therapist-supported approach resulted in a more significant reduction in symptoms compared to usual care. The self-guided internet treatment also demonstrated a greater reduction than usual care, but the difference was not statistically significant.
Both internet-based interventions proved to be more cost-effective than standard care. While the findings suggest internet-based treatment with therapist support could enhance access to mental health care for young people, the researchers caution that more research is needed to determine which adolescent populations may benefit most from this format. A long-term follow-up will be detailed in an upcoming publication.
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