Use of the Internet to Assist in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2010 Nov 19

PMID 21085550

Citations 11

Authors

Alan G Wade

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review aims to describe the Internet's potential role in assisting patients with depression and anxiety.

Data Sources: A MEDLINE search was conducted of articles published between 1998 and 2008 using the terms depression and anxiety and Internet, computers and depression and anxiety, Internet and compliance and depression, and Internet and adherence and depression.

Study Selection: Publications cited include articles concerned with the Internet in screening, supporting, educating, and treating patients with depression and anxiety.

Data Extraction: The efficacy of Internet-based interventions for depression and anxiety was reviewed, alongside the quality of available online information regarding these disorders.

Data Synthesis: Little progress has been made in developing a universally accepted system for quality assurance of medical information Web sites. Furthermore, there is a lack of research describing the effect of self-diagnosis sites on meaningful outcomes, such as the proportion of patients who go on to receive successful treatment for their depression. Early studies of Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression were promising; however, results of clinical trials for "e-therapy" have been variable due to methodological issues. A novel compliance support Web site for patients with depression and anxiety is being evaluated to establish whether providing such assistance can improve patient outcomes.

Conclusions: The use of the Internet to assist patients with depression and anxiety is currently in its infancy. However, it appears that the Internet has great potential to support patients with depression and may consequently also be of benefit to physicians.

Citing Articles

Feasibility, engagement, and preliminary clinical outcomes of a digital biodata-driven intervention for anxiety and depression.

Tsirmpas C, Andrikopoulos D, Fatouros P, Eleftheriou G, Anguera J, Kontoangelos K Front Digit Health. 2022; 4:868970.

PMID: 35958737 PMC: 9359094. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.868970.

Strategies to improve access to cognitive behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders: A scoping review.

Carrier J, Gallagher F, Vanasse A, Roberge P PLoS One. 2022; 17(3):e0264368.

PMID: 35231039 PMC: 8887746. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264368.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation With and Without Internet-Delivered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Resistant Depression: Protocol for Patient-Centered Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Abou El-Magd R, Obuobi-Donkor G, Adu M, Lachowski C, Duddumpudi S, Lawal M JMIR Res Protoc. 2020; 9(10):e18843.

PMID: 33107835 PMC: 7655463. DOI: 10.2196/18843.

Expectations and needs of patients with a chronic disease toward self-management and eHealth for self-management purposes.

Huygens M, Vermeulen J, Swinkels I, Friele R, van Schayck O, de Witte L BMC Health Serv Res. 2016; 16:232.

PMID: 27391471 PMC: 4938915. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-016-1484-5.

A Web-Based Psychoeducational Intervention Program for Depression and Anxiety in an Adult Community in Selangor, Malaysia: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Kader Maideen S, Mohd-Sidik S, Rampal L, Mukhtar F, Ibrahim N, Phang C JMIR Res Protoc. 2016; 5(2):e112.

PMID: 27329333 PMC: 4933799. DOI: 10.2196/resprot.4622.

References

Ryan A, Wilson S . Internet healthcare: do self-diagnosis sites do more harm than good?. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2008; 7(3):227-9. DOI: 10.1517/14740338.7.3.227. View

Postel M, de Haan H, de Jong C . E-therapy for mental health problems: a systematic review. Telemed J E Health. 2008; 14(7):707-14. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2007.0111. View

Andersson G, Bergstrom J, Hollandare F, Carlbring P, Kaldo V, Ekselius L . Internet-based self-help for depression: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2005; 187:456-61. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.187.5.456. View

McDonald H, Garg A, Haynes R . Interventions to enhance patient adherence to medication prescriptions: scientific review. JAMA. 2002; 288(22):2868-79. DOI: 10.1001/jama.288.22.2868. View

Wang P, Demler O, Kessler R . Adequacy of treatment for serious mental illness in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2002; 92(1):92-8. PMC: 1447396. DOI: 10.2105/ajph.92.1.92. View

Ipser J, Dewing S, Stein D . A systematic review of the quality of information on the treatment of anxiety disorders on the internet. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2007; 9(4):303-9. DOI: 10.1007/s11920-007-0037-3. View

Berger M, Wagner T, Baker L . Internet use and stigmatized illness. Soc Sci Med. 2005; 61(8):1821-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.03.025. View

van Straten A, Cuijpers P, Smits N . Effectiveness of a web-based self-help intervention for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2008; 10(1):e7. PMC: 2483843. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.954. View

Elgie R . A patient and primary care perspective: a patient's perspective on the treatment of depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006; 67 Suppl 6:38-40. View

10.

Kiropoulos L, Klein B, Austin D, Gilson K, Pier C, Mitchell J . Is internet-based CBT for panic disorder and agoraphobia as effective as face-to-face CBT?. J Anxiety Disord. 2008; 22(8):1273-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.01.008. View

11.

Parslow R, Jorm A . Who uses mental health services in Australia? An analysis of data from the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2000; 34(6):997-1008. DOI: 10.1080/000486700276. View

12.

Christensen H, Griffiths K, Korten A . Web-based cognitive behavior therapy: analysis of site usage and changes in depression and anxiety scores. J Med Internet Res. 2002; 4(1):e3. PMC: 1761927. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.4.1.e3. View

13.

Kohn R, Saxena S, Levav I, Saraceno B . The treatment gap in mental health care. Bull World Health Organ. 2005; 82(11):858-66. PMC: 2623050. DOI: /S0042-96862004001100011. View

14.

de Graaf L, Gerhards S, Evers S, Arntz A, Riper H, Severens J . Clinical and cost-effectiveness of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for depression in primary care: design of a randomised trial. BMC Public Health. 2008; 8:224. PMC: 2474681. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-224. View

15.

Leveille S, Huang A, Tsai S, Weingart S, Iezzoni L . Screening for chronic conditions using a patient internet portal: recruitment for an internet-based primary care intervention. J Gen Intern Med. 2008; 23(4):472-5. PMC: 2359520. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-007-0443-6. View

16.

Griffiths K, Christensen H, Jorm A, Evans K, Groves C . Effect of web-based depression literacy and cognitive-behavioural therapy interventions on stigmatising attitudes to depression: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2004; 185:342-9. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.185.4.342. View

17.

Spek V, Nyklicek I, Cuijpers P, Pop V . Internet administration of the Edinburgh Depression Scale. J Affect Disord. 2007; 106(3):301-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2007.07.003. View

18.

Caldwell T, Jorm A, Dear K . Suicide and mental health in rural, remote and metropolitan areas in Australia. Med J Aust. 2004; 181(S7):S10-4. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06348.x. View

19.

Farvolden P, McBride C, Bagby R, Ravitz P . A Web-based screening instrument for depression and anxiety disorders in primary care. J Med Internet Res. 2003; 5(3):e23. PMC: 1550568. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.5.3.e23. View

20.

Geddes J, Carney S, Davies C, Furukawa T, Kupfer D, Frank E . Relapse prevention with antidepressant drug treatment in depressive disorders: a systematic review. Lancet. 2003; 361(9358):653-61. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12599-8. View