An Online Intervention for Co-Occurring Depression and Problematic Alcohol Use in Young People: Primary Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Trial.
J Med Internet Res
; 18(3): e71, 2016 Mar 23.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27009465
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Depression and problematic alcohol use represent two of the major causes of disease burden in young adults. These conditions frequently co-occur and this is associated with increased harm and poorer outcomes than either disorder in isolation. Integrated treatments have been shown to be effective; however, there remains a significant gap between those in need of treatment and those receiving it. The increased availability of eHealth programs presents a unique opportunity to treat these conditions.OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an automated Web-based self-help intervention (DEAL Project) in treating co-occurring depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use in young people.METHODS:
Young people (aged 18 to 25 years) with moderate depression symptoms and drinking at hazardous levels (recruited largely via social media) were randomly allocated to the DEAL Project (n=60) or a Web-based attention-control condition (HealthWatch; n=44). The trial consisted of a 4-week intervention phase with follow-up assessment at posttreatment and at 3 and 6 months postbaseline. The primary outcomes were change in depression severity according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 as well as quantity and frequency of alcohol use (TOT-AL).RESULTS:
The DEAL Project was associated with statistically significant improvement in depression symptom severity (d=0.71) and reductions in alcohol use quantity (d=0.99) and frequency (d=0.76) in the short term compared to the control group. At 6-month follow-up, the improvements in the intervention group were maintained; however, the differences between the intervention and control groups were no longer statistically significant, such that between-group effects were in the small to moderate range at 6 months (depression symptoms d=0.39; alcohol quantity d=-0.09; alcohol frequency d=0.24).CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, the DEAL Project was associated with more rapid improvement in both depression symptoms and alcohol use outcomes in young people with these co-occurring conditions relative to an attention-control condition. However, long-term outcomes are less clear. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12613000033741; https//www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=363461 (Archived by WebCite at http//www.webcitation.org/6fpsLEGOy).Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Terapia Asistida por Computador
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Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas
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Terapia Cognitivo-Conductual
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Internet
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Depresión
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Trastorno Depresivo
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Alcoholismo
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
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Diagnostic_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País como asunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article