The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Kathleen M. Griffiths; Andrew J. Mackinnon; Dimity A. Crisp; Helen Christensen; Kylie Bennett; Louise Farrer

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053244

The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Kathleen M. Griffiths, Andrew J. Mackinnon, Dimity A. Crisp, Helen Christensen, Kylie Bennett, Louise Farrer

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Abstract

Background: Internet support groups (ISGs) are popular, particularly among people with depression, but there is little high quality evidence concerning their effectiveness. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an ISG for reducing depressive symptoms among community members when used alone and in combination with an automated Internet-based psychotherapy training program. Method: Volunteers with elevated psychological distress were identified using a community-based screening postal survey. Participants were randomised to one of four 12-week conditions: depression Internet Support Group (ISG), automated depression Internet Training Program (ITP), combination of the two (ITP+ISG), or a control website with delayed access to e-couch at 6 months. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, 6 and 12 months. Results: There was no change in depressive symptoms relative to control after 3 months of exposure to the ISG. However, both the ISG alone and the combined ISG+ITP group showed significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms at 6 and 12 months follow-up than the control group. The ITP program was effective relative to control at post-intervention but not at 6 months. Conclusions: ISGs for depression are promising and warrant further empirical investigation. Trial Registration: Controlled-Trials.com <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN65657330" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ISRCTN65657330</ext-link>.

Original language	English
Article number	e53244
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	PLoS One
Volume	7
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0053244
Publication status	Published - 28 Dec 2012
Externally published	Yes

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10.1371/journal.pone.0053244Licence: CC BY

ArticleFinal published version, 418 KBLicence: CC BY

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title = "The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial",

abstract = "Background: Internet support groups (ISGs) are popular, particularly among people with depression, but there is little high quality evidence concerning their effectiveness. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an ISG for reducing depressive symptoms among community members when used alone and in combination with an automated Internet-based psychotherapy training program. Method: Volunteers with elevated psychological distress were identified using a community-based screening postal survey. Participants were randomised to one of four 12-week conditions: depression Internet Support Group (ISG), automated depression Internet Training Program (ITP), combination of the two (ITP+ISG), or a control website with delayed access to e-couch at 6 months. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, 6 and 12 months. Results: There was no change in depressive symptoms relative to control after 3 months of exposure to the ISG. However, both the ISG alone and the combined ISG+ITP group showed significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms at 6 and 12 months follow-up than the control group. The ITP program was effective relative to control at post-intervention but not at 6 months. Conclusions: ISGs for depression are promising and warrant further empirical investigation. Trial Registration: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN65657330.",

author = "Griffiths, {Kathleen M.} and Mackinnon, {Andrew J.} and Crisp, {Dimity A.} and Helen Christensen and Kylie Bennett and Louise Farrer",

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AU - Christensen, Helen

AU - Bennett, Kylie

AU - Farrer, Louise

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The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial

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