Web-Based Depression Interventions and Help Seeking
Author Information
Author(s): Helen Christensen, Liana S Leach, Lisa Barney, Andrew J Mackinnon, Kathy M Griffiths
Primary Institution: Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
Hypothesis
Do web-based depression interventions influence self-reported help seeking behaviors?
Conclusion
Web-based interventions can reduce reliance on non-evidence based treatments but may not significantly increase help seeking for evidence-based treatments.
Supporting Evidence
- BluePages was associated with decreased help seeking from friends and family.
- MoodGYM participants reported higher use of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- Both interventions significantly reduced depression symptoms compared to the control.
Takeaway
This study looked at how websites for depression help people decide to seek help. Some websites made people less likely to ask friends for help.
Methodology
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a depression information website, a cognitive-behavioral skills training website, or a control condition.
Potential Biases
Participants may have specific preferences for types of treatment not shared by the general community.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data for help seeking and had a lower response rate.
Participant Demographics
The sample comprised 114 men and 300 women, with a mean age of 36.8 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.0 to 7.3
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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