Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy Effects

Treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TR-MDD) is a complex condition, with very low remission rates. In recent years some studies have been conducted on the implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy interventions via the Internet to MDD patients, and res...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jorge Mota Pereira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/892048
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849405000990588928
author Jorge Mota Pereira
author_facet Jorge Mota Pereira
author_sort Jorge Mota Pereira
collection DOAJ
description Treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TR-MDD) is a complex condition, with very low remission rates. In recent years some studies have been conducted on the implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy interventions via the Internet to MDD patients, and results have been promising. However, there have been no studies in patients with TR-MDD nor with the use of Facebook with the psychiatrist as “friend.” 60 TR-MDD patients were randomized to one of three groups: Facebook group with psychiatrist as “friend,” Facebook group without psychiatrist as “friend,” and control group (no Facebook use). Both Facebook groups spent at least 1 hour/day on Facebook, 7 days/week, during the 3 months. All patients maintained their usual pharmacotherapy. All participants were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 months for depressive symptoms using HAD17 and BDI-II. Results show that both Facebook groups had a decrease on HADM17 and BDI-II scores as well as higher remission and response rates than the control group, with better results if the psychiatrist was a “friend” on Facebook. Therefore, in TR-MDD, Facebook can be used as an effective enhancement therapy, adjuvant to pharmacological therapy with regular consultations, especially if the psychiatrist is the patient’s online “friend.”
format Article
id doaj-art-4904ca8ec1d144a39a6eba4c13cb6404
institution Kabale University
issn 2356-6140
1537-744X
language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series The Scientific World Journal
spelling doaj-art-4904ca8ec1d144a39a6eba4c13cb64042025-08-20T03:36:47ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/892048892048Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy EffectsJorge Mota Pereira0Clínica Médico-Psiquiátrica da Ordem, Rua Gonçalo Cristóvão, No. 347, Sala 202, 4000-270 Porto, PortugalTreatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TR-MDD) is a complex condition, with very low remission rates. In recent years some studies have been conducted on the implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy interventions via the Internet to MDD patients, and results have been promising. However, there have been no studies in patients with TR-MDD nor with the use of Facebook with the psychiatrist as “friend.” 60 TR-MDD patients were randomized to one of three groups: Facebook group with psychiatrist as “friend,” Facebook group without psychiatrist as “friend,” and control group (no Facebook use). Both Facebook groups spent at least 1 hour/day on Facebook, 7 days/week, during the 3 months. All patients maintained their usual pharmacotherapy. All participants were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 months for depressive symptoms using HAD17 and BDI-II. Results show that both Facebook groups had a decrease on HADM17 and BDI-II scores as well as higher remission and response rates than the control group, with better results if the psychiatrist was a “friend” on Facebook. Therefore, in TR-MDD, Facebook can be used as an effective enhancement therapy, adjuvant to pharmacological therapy with regular consultations, especially if the psychiatrist is the patient’s online “friend.”http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/892048
spellingShingle Jorge Mota Pereira
Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy Effects
The Scientific World Journal
title Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy Effects
title_full Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy Effects
title_fullStr Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy Effects
title_full_unstemmed Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy Effects
title_short Facebook Enhances Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy Effects
title_sort facebook enhances antidepressant pharmacotherapy effects
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/892048
work_keys_str_mv AT jorgemotapereira facebookenhancesantidepressantpharmacotherapyeffects