GET.HAPPY - Acceptance of an internet-based self-management positive psychology intervention for adult primary care patients with mild and moderate depression or dysthymia: A pilot study

Abstract

IntroductionA growing number of internet interventions have been shown to help in alleviating symptoms of depression. So far, only little research has focused on other methods than CBT. The present study aimed to investigate the level of satisfaction with a positive psychology online training among patients with mild and moderate depression or dysthymia. Secondary outcome measures included changes in symptom severity, health related quality of life, and negative effects.MethodsA total of 81 participants were allocated to the intervention. They were asked to complete online questionnaires and were called by one of the study psychologists at baseline, at post-treatment, and at follow-up (3 months after completion of the intervention). Shorter questionnaires were administered after each module.ResultsOverall satisfaction was promising. While participants seemed to be very satisfied with many aspects of the program itself, they were slightly less satisfied with its impact on the problems they sought to solve. Overall, negative effects attributed to the program were small with one exception. At post-treatment, 22.6% of the participants felt that they or their problems were not taken seriously by the program. Symptom severity decreased over time with mild to moderate effect sizes. There was a moderate increase in satisfaction with mental health at both post-treatment and follow-up.ConclusionsThe online program investigated here may be a useful resource-oriented addition to the standard treatment of depression.

GET.HAPPY2 – User perspectives on an internet‐based self‐management positive psychology intervention among persons with and without depression: Results from a retrospective survey

“…Items were partly taken from established instruments like the Inventory for the Assessment of Negative Effects of Psychotherapy (INEP; Ladwig, Rief, & Nestoriuc, ) and partly chosen based on information from program users from a previous study (Görges et al, ).…”

“…In the past decade, a growing number of studies have focused on investigating the effects of PPIs on symptoms of depression in convenience samples (often referred to as “distressed” individuals) as well as clinically depressed individuals. The majority of studies, most of them investigating online programs, suggest that PPIs can lead to an increase in well‐being, a reduction in symptoms of depression as well as anxiety, and an increase in subjective health (Antoine, Dauvier, Andreotti, & Congard, ; Bolier, Haverman, Kramer et al, ; Görges, Oehler, Hirschhausen, von, Hegerl, & Rummel‐Kluge, ; Seligman, Rashid, & Parks, ; Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, ; Shapira & Mongrain, ; Wellenzohn, Proyer, & Ruch, ; see Bolier & Abello, ; Mitchell, Vella‐Brodrick, & Klein, for reviews) . Recent studies comparing PPI and CBT group therapies suggest that PPIs are as effective as CBT interventions in treating severe clinical depression, while leading to even greater satisfaction scores among patients (Chaves, Lopez‐Gomez, Hervas, & Vazquez, ; Lopez‐Gomez, Chaves, Hervas, & Vazquez, ).…”

“…Participants were more likely to initiate exercises if they believed that others would approve, but they also believed that these exercises would be burdensome. Görges et al () observed that 22.6% of participants did not feel taken seriously by such a program. Furthermore, the requirements of certain positive psychology exercises might be too demanding or overwhelming for depressed individuals.…”

“…Furthermore, the requirements of certain positive psychology exercises might be too demanding or overwhelming for depressed individuals. Exercises focusing on an increase in interactions with other people might be particularly difficult (Görges et al, ) and have even been found to lead to deterioration in a dysphoric group of participants (Sin et al, ).…”

“…The program had been previously evaluated in a nonclinical setting of employees of an insurance company, yielding positive effects on stress, happiness, satisfaction, and quality of life (Feicht et al, ). Results from a pilot study specifically recruiting depressed individuals, suggest that this group might benefit from this program, as well (Görges et al, ). To reach a more naturalistic sample, a retrospective online survey was employed among users of the online program.…”