Treating Depression with a Behavior Change Support System without Face-to-Face Therapy

Abstract

In this paper, we present results from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that examined the impact of persuasive reminders and virtual rehearsal on the effectiveness of a behavior-change support system (BCSS). We developed the Web-based BCSS to support people with mild to moderate depression without face-to-face therapy. We randomized eligible participants into two groups. Both groups rehearsed the target behavior virtually; however, only the first intervention group received email-based reminders. We applied a mixed-methods approach for the analysis. We collected data with semi-structured self-reported questionnaires and post-study interviews. Results indicate that the severity of depression was noticeably decreased and participants' self-confidence to manage depressive thoughts was generally improved. The influence of persuasive reminders on task completion was less than we anticipated, while the participants felt that virtual rehearsal was an effective technique for learning new behaviors. We discuss possible reasons for the results at the end of the paper.

The technostress trifecta ‐ techno eustress, techno distress and design: Theoretical directions and an agenda for research

“…These sorts of persuasive IS can be applied in the context of different techno-distress situations, such as multi-tasking on smartphones, and IS generated interruptions through e-mail and other communication applications. It is important to keep in mind however that such persuasion itself should not happen in an obtrusive, undesired, and consequently stressful manner (Dennison, Morrison, Conway, & Yardley, 2013;Kuonanoja, Langrial, Lappalainen, Lappalainen, & Oinas-Kukkonen, 2015).…”

The effects of counseling via a smartphone application on microentrepreneurs’ work ability and work recovery: a study protocol

“…Prior to the present application, the model has been used successfully in other health intervention designs and in research evaluating persuasive systems in the health domain (e.g. [37,[51][52][53][54]). It emphasizes the importance of analyzing the contexts of use, user and technology (that is, the persuasion context).…”

“…Persuasive technology is increasingly used for promoting behavior change. It has been used in mobile applications for assisting people with issues such as weight management, sleep problems, and depression [35][36][37]. However, a recent review identified only a small number of currently available stand-alone apps that have been evaluated in RCTs, and concluded that overall, the evidence of effectiveness is of relatively low quality [38].…”

Human-Computer Interaction in Health and Wellness: Research and Publication Opportunities

“…The fifth paper, "Treating Depression through a Behavior Change Support System without Face-to-Face Therapy" (Kuonanoja, Langrial, Lappalainen, Lappalainen, & Oinas-Kukkonen, 2015), examines the impact of two important persuasive features (reminders and rehearsals) of a Web-based behavior change support system for patients that suffer from mild to moderate depression. Characteristics of patient users, special-purpose health IT, and nonclinical environment place this paper in octant H.…”