IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i24p12993-d698532.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Depression: Online Therapy Study (D:OTS)—A Pilot Study of an Internet-Based Psychodynamic Treatment for Adolescents with Low Mood in the UK, in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Nick Midgley

    (The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK)

  • Brenda Guerrero-Tates

    (The Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6DH, UK)

  • Rose Mortimer

    (The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK)

  • Julian Edbrooke-Childs

    (The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK)

  • Jakob Mechler

    (Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Karin Lindqvist

    (Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Susan Hajkowski

    (Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derby DE22 3LZ, UK)

  • Liat Leibovich

    (Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, Ruppin Academic Center, Hefer Valley 4025000, Israel)

  • Peter Martin

    (The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK
    Department of Applied Health Research, University College, London WC1E 6DH, UK)

  • Gerhard Andersson

    (Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
    Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
    Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Solna, Sweden)

  • George Vlaescu

    (Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden)

  • Peter Lilliengren

    (Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Bräcke Sköndal University College, 116 28 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Annabel Kitson

    (The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK)

  • Pamela Butler-Wheelhouse

    (The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK)

  • Björn Philips

    (Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

Introduction: Face-to-face therapy is unavailable to many young people with mental health difficulties in the UK. Internet-based treatments are a low-cost, flexible, and accessible option that may be acceptable to young people. This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of an English-language adaptation of internet-based psychodynamic treatment (iPDT) for depressed adolescents, undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Methods: A single-group, uncontrolled design was used. A total of 23 adolescents, 16–18 years old and experiencing depression, were recruited to this study. Assessments were made at baseline and end of treatment, with additional weekly assessments of depression and anxiety symptoms. Results: Findings showed that it was feasible to recruit to this study during the pandemic, and to deliver the iPDT model with a good level of treatment acceptability. A statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms and emotion dysregulation was found, with large effect size, by the end of treatment. Whilst anxiety symptoms decreased, this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The findings suggest that this English-language adaptation of iPDT, with some further revisions, is feasible to deliver and acceptable for adolescents with depression. Preliminary data indicate that iPDT appears to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Nick Midgley & Brenda Guerrero-Tates & Rose Mortimer & Julian Edbrooke-Childs & Jakob Mechler & Karin Lindqvist & Susan Hajkowski & Liat Leibovich & Peter Martin & Gerhard Andersson & George Vlaescu &, 2021. "The Depression: Online Therapy Study (D:OTS)—A Pilot Study of an Internet-Based Psychodynamic Treatment for Adolescents with Low Mood in the UK, in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:12993-:d:698532
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/24/12993/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/24/12993/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Daniel Ebert & Anna-Carlotta Zarski & Helen Christensen & Yvonne Stikkelbroek & Pim Cuijpers & Matthias Berking & Heleen Riper, 2015. "Internet and Computer-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Youth: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Outcome Trials," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Christina Gallinat & Markus Moessner & Sandra Apondo & Philipp A. Thomann & Sabine C. Herpertz & Stephanie Bauer, 2021. "Feasibility of an Intervention Delivered via Mobile Phone and Internet to Improve the Continuity of Care in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Sanne P. A. Rasing & Yvonne A. J. Stikkelbroek & Denise H. M. Bodden, 2019. "Is Digital Treatment the Holy Grail? Literature Review on Computerized and Blended Treatment for Depressive Disorders in Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Lane, Julie & Manceau, Luiza Maria & de Chantal, Pier-Luc & Chagnon, Alexandre & Cardinal, Michael & Lauzier-Jobin, François & Lanoue, Sèverine, 2024. "Implementing a mental health app library in primary care: A feasibility study," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    4. Harald Baumeister & Yannik Terhorst & Cora Grässle & Maren Freudenstein & Rüdiger Nübling & David Daniel Ebert, 2020. "Impact of an acceptance facilitating intervention on psychotherapists’ acceptance of blended therapy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Gretchen J. Bjornstad & Shreya Sonthalia & Benjamin Rouse & Luke Timmons & Laura Whybra & Nick Axford, 2020. "PROTOCOL: A comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural interventions based on delivery features for elevated symptoms of depression in adolescents," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(1), March.
    6. Braciszewski, Jordan M. & Tzilos Wernette, Golfo K. & Moore, Roland S. & Bock, Beth C. & Stout, Robert L. & Chamberlain, Patricia, 2018. "A pilot randomized controlled trial of a technology-based substance use intervention for youth exiting foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 466-476.
    7. Daniel Núñez & Jorge Gaete & Daniela Meza & Javiera Andaur & Jo Robinson, 2022. "Testing the Effectiveness of a Blended Intervention to Reduce Suicidal Ideation among School Adolescents in Chile: A Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Matilda Berg & Gerhard Andersson & Alexander Rozental, 2020. "Knowledge About Treatment, Anxiety, and Depression in Association With Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents: Development and Initial Evaluation of a New Test," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440198, January.
    9. Sanne P.A. Rasing & Yvonne A.J. Stikkelbroek & Wouter den Hollander & Heleen Riper & Maja Deković & Maaike H. Nauta & Daan H.M. Creemers & Marianne C.P. Immink & Mariken Spuij & Denise H.M. Bodden, 2021. "Pragmatic Quasi-Experimental Controlled Trial Evaluating the Outcomes of Blended CBT Compared to Face-to-Face CBT and Treatment as Usual for Adolescents with Depressive Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-17, March.
    10. Keya Ding & Hui Li, 2023. "Digital Addiction Intervention for Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-21, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:12993-:d:698532. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.