Gesundheitswesen 2021; 83(08/09): 709
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1732148
Donnerstag 23.09.2021
Vorträge

An individualized proactive e-health intervention promoting a lifestyle against depression: Results of a randomized controlled trial over 24 months

K Krause
1   Institute for Medical Psychology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
,
D Gürtler
2   Institute for Community Medicine, Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
3   DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Germany
,
A Möhring
2   Institute for Community Medicine, Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
3   DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Germany
,
G Bischof
4   Department of Psychiatry, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
,
A Batra
5   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
,
H-J Rumpf
4   Department of Psychiatry, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
,
S Wurm
2   Institute for Community Medicine, Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
,
U John
2   Institute for Community Medicine, Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
3   DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Germany
,
C Meyer
2   Institute for Community Medicine, Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
3   DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Germany
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Purpose We developed a fully automated e-health intervention promoting a depression-preventive lifestyle. Here, we present preliminary results from a proof-of-concept study among non-treatment seekers.

Methods German medical care patients were systematically screened. Eligible participants with at least one past year subsyndromal depressive episode and giving informed consent (participation rate 49%; n = 456, mean age = 41 years, 63% females) were randomized into an assessment only control (CG) or an intervention group (IG). Over 6 months, IG received 3 feedback letters and weekly text messages promoting depression preventive behaviors (DPBs): dealing with unhelpful thoughts, stress management, exercising, help-seeking, behavioral activation. Generalized estimation equation analyses adjusting for gender, age, education, site and setting were used to analyze changes in the number of applied DPBs, well-being (WHO-5) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-8), after 6 (n = 335), 12 (n = 338) and 24-months (n = 281, preliminary results).

Results Over time, applied DPBs and well-being increased, while depressive symptoms decreased in both groups. Increases in the applied DPBs were larger in IG compared to CG at month 6 (p = 0.002). At month 12 and 24, this effect vanished (p = 0.084; p = 0.061). Increases in well-being were larger in the IG compared to CG only at month 12 (p = 0.049; no difference at month 6; not assessed at month 24). Decreases in depressive symptoms did not differ across groups at month 6 and 24 (p = 0.318; p = 0.943), however at month 12 decreases were smaller in IG compared to the CG (p = 0.013).

Conclusions Our intervention effectively fostered DPB uptake and well-being, while no beneficial effects on depressive symptoms were observed. Intervention effects on DPBs were not persistent, which is a common problem in lifestyle interventions.



Publication History

Article published online:
02 September 2021

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