Volume 55, Issue 12 pp. 2069-2076

Full-Length Original Research

Efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression in people with epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

Corresponding Author

Johanna Schröder

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

Address correspondence to Johanna Schröder, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Katja Brückner,

Katja Brückner

Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Protestant Hospital Hamburg-Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Anja Fischer,

Anja Fischer

Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Matthias Lindenau,

Matthias Lindenau

Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Protestant Hospital Hamburg-Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Ulf Köther,

Ulf Köther

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Eik Vettorazzi,

Eik Vettorazzi

Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Steffen Moritz,

Steffen Moritz

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Johanna Schröder,

Corresponding Author

Johanna Schröder

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

Katja Brückner,

Katja Brückner

Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Protestant Hospital Hamburg-Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Anja Fischer,

Anja Fischer

Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Matthias Lindenau,

Matthias Lindenau

Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Protestant Hospital Hamburg-Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Ulf Köther,

Ulf Köther

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Eik Vettorazzi,

Eik Vettorazzi

Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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Steffen Moritz,

Steffen Moritz

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

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First published: 19 November 2014

https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.12833

Citations: 80

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Summary

Objective

Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in persons with epilepsy (PWEs). Despite its major impact on quality of life and risk of suicide, most PWEs are not treated for depression. A current challenge in mental health care is how to close this treatment gap and increase access to psychological services. Psychological online interventions (POIs) have shown efficacy in improving depression among individuals without neurologic disorders. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression (Deprexis) in PWEs who have symptoms of depression.

Methods

Participants with self-reported epilepsy and subjective complaints of depressive symptoms were randomized to an intervention condition (Deprexis) or to a waiting list control (WLC) condition. After 9 weeks, participants were invited to complete an online reassessment.

Results

Relative to the waiting list group, program users experienced a significant symptom decline on the Beck Depression Inventory - I (BDI-I, primary outcome) with a moderate effect size in the complete observations analysis and a small effect size in the intention-to-treat analysis. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement with a moderate effect size on the “energy/fatigue” subscale of the Quality of Life In Epilepsy Inventory - 31 (QOLIE-31).

Significance

The results of this trial suggest that POIs may be a feasible and beneficial tool for PWEs who have comorbid depressive symptoms.

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Volume55, Issue12

December 2014

Pages 2069-2076

Efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression in people with epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

Summary

Objective

Methods

Results

Significance

References

Citing Literature

References

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Efficacy of a psychological online intervention for depression in people with epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

Summary

Objective

Methods

Results

Significance

References

Citing Literature

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