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
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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Quiz yourself
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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