Deprexis online therapy reduced depression scores
An integrative online program (Deprexis) improved BDI depression symptoms versus delayed treatment in a large German internet RCT.
Source
Effectiveness of a novel integrative online treatment for depression (Deprexis): randomized controlled trial
Study at a glance
- Design
- RCT — Immediate Deprexis vs delayed treatment; online recruitment
- N
- N=396 · 81% assigned to immediate treatment
- Population
- Adults with depression symptoms recruited online for Deprexis
- Outcome
- BDI change over time (condition × time)
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Deprexis online therapy reduced depression scores
These passages occur verbatim in the stored paper text. They support the points listed below; they do not verify every statement in the explanation.
Immediate group improved 5.4 BDI points (d=0.58).
Based on estimated marginal means, the immediate-treatment group improved 5.4 BDI points (from 26.72 to 21.30), which corresponded to a pre-post effect size of d = 0.58.
396 individuals were included; 81% immediate treatment.
As summarized in , a total of 396 individuals was included in the study, of which 81% were assigned to the immediate-treatment condition and 19% to the delayed-treatment condition.
What they did
Researchers randomized 396 adults recruited online to immediate Deprexis treatment or delayed treatment and compared BDI and functioning over time.
What they found
Immediate treatment improved ~5.4 BDI points (d=0.58) with a significant condition×time interaction; delayed group showed essentially no BDI change over the same interval.
The limits
What it doesn't show
How Deprexis compares head-to-head with face-to-face CBT, or effects in people without internet access/forum recruitment.
Key terms
- Deprexis
- Integrative online depression treatment program tested in the trial.
- BDI
- Beck Depression Inventory symptom severity scale.
- Effect size d
- Standardized mean change (Cohen’s d) describing treatment magnitude.
- Immediate vs delayed treatment
- Random assignment to start now versus wait-list style delay.
- ITT analysis
- Intention-to-treat approach including participants with missing data strategies.
- Online CBT-style care
- Internet-delivered structured psychological treatment for depression.
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Immediate BDI improvement was about:
Common questions
How large was the sample?
396 individuals; 81% immediate, 19% delayed.
How much did BDI fall with immediate treatment?
About 5.4 points (26.72→21.30), d=0.58.
Did the delayed group improve over the same window?
No meaningful BDI change (d≈0.01).
Was the time×treatment interaction significant?
Yes (e.g., F=19.2, P<.001 for BDI).
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