MoodGYM improves population wellbeing
In a large UK web RCT, automated MoodGYM raised mental well-being versus wait-list control despite high intervention attrition.
Source
Effectiveness of a web-based cognitive-behavioral tool to improve mental well-being in the general population: randomized controlled trial
What they did
Users of the NHS Choices site were randomized to fully automated MoodGYM or a waiting-list control. Well-being (WEMWBS) and related outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks in an intention-to-treat mixed-model analysis.
What they found
3070 people were randomized. The intervention × time interaction was highly significant: adjusted WEMWBS differences favored MoodGYM by about 2.5 points at 6 weeks and 2.9 at 12 weeks (≈Cohen d 0.34). Attrition was much higher in the intervention arm (73.5%) than control (26.9%).
The limits
What it doesn't show
High differential dropout can bias estimates even with ITT modeling. The trial targets general well-being, not diagnosed anxiety disorders, and wait-list controls may inflate apparent benefit.
Key terms
- MoodGYM
- Fully automated web CBT package originally built to prevent depression.
- WEMWBS
- Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, the primary outcome.
- Waiting-list control
- Comparator arm without the active digital program during follow-up.
- Intention-to-treat
- Analyzing participants in assigned arms regardless of adherence.
- Intervention × time interaction
- Test of whether groups change differently across follow-ups.
- Attrition
- Loss to follow-up; here much higher with MoodGYM than control.
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What was MoodGYM compared with?
Common questions
How many were randomized?
3070 people completed consent/baseline and were randomized.
What was primary outcome?
Mental well-being on WEMWBS at 6 and 12 weeks.
Did MoodGYM help?
Yes—significant intervention × time effect favoring MoodGYM.
What was the attrition problem?
73.5% lost in intervention vs 26.9% in control.
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