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The 6‐month effectiveness of Internet‐based guided self‐help for depression in adults with Type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus
Author(s) -
Ebert D. D.,
Nobis S.,
Lehr D.,
Baumeister H.,
Riper H.,
Auerbach R. P.,
Snoek F.,
Cuijpers P.,
Berking M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/dme.13173
Subject(s) - medicine , depression (economics) , psychoeducation , distress , diabetes mellitus , confidence interval , relative risk , randomized controlled trial , type 2 diabetes , center for epidemiologic studies depression scale , intervention (counseling) , physical therapy , psychiatry , depressive symptoms , clinical psychology , endocrinology , economics , macroeconomics
Aim The aim of this research is to examine the 6‐month effects of an Internet‐based guided self‐help intervention for comorbid depressive symptoms in people with diabetes. Methods Participants ( n = 260) with Type 1 or 2 diabetes and elevated depressive symptoms [Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale ( CES ‐D) ≥ 23] were randomly assigned to a guided Internet‐based self‐help intervention or a control condition (treatment as usual + online psychoeducation about depression). The primary outcome was a change in depressive symptom severity ( CES ‐D) from baseline to 6‐month follow‐up. The secondary outcomes included numbers of people achieving treatment response (reliable change of depressive symptoms) and remission ( CES ‐D ≤ 16), as well as the effects on glycaemic control, diabetes‐related emotional distress and diabetes acceptance. Repeated measures analysis of variance examined between‐group differences using intent‐to‐treat principles. Results Both conditions showed improvements in depression severity: intervention condition, d = 1.48 [95% confidence interval (95% CI ): 1.21 to 1.76]; control condition d = 0.55 (95% CI : 0.30 to 0.80). Changes were significantly greater in the intervention condition with a large between‐group effect size ( d = 0.83, 95% CI : 0.57 to 1.08). Accordingly, effects on response [relative risk ( RR ) = 2.60 (95% CI : 2.01 to 3.36), P < 0.001] and remission [ RR = 3.36 (95% CI : 2.98 to 5.44), P < 0.001] were in favour of the intervention group, as were differences in change in diabetes emotional distress ( d = 0.50, 95% CI : 0.04 to 0.54), and physical and mental functioning [Short Form Health Survey ( SF ‐12) Physical d = 0.27 (95% CI : 0.01 to 0.51) and SF ‐12 Mental d = 0.68 (95% CI : 0.11 to 0.40)]. The intervention group was not superior with regard to glycaemic control, diabetes self‐management and diabetes acceptance. Conclusions The trial indicates that Internet‐based guided self‐help treatments for depression in people with diabetes can have sustained effects on depressive symptoms, well‐being and emotional distress associated with diabetes.