Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from India
Background: Depression is a common mental health disorder with a wide treatment gap despite the availability of a number of effective treatment options. Blended interventions adopt a novel approach in combining internet-based self-help with brief face-to-face sessions thereby combining the advantage...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176241238289 |
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| author | Sindhuja Sudarshan Seema Mehrotra Jagadisha Thirthalli |
| author_facet | Sindhuja Sudarshan Seema Mehrotra Jagadisha Thirthalli |
| author_sort | Sindhuja Sudarshan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Depression is a common mental health disorder with a wide treatment gap despite the availability of a number of effective treatment options. Blended interventions adopt a novel approach in combining internet-based self-help with brief face-to-face sessions thereby combining the advantages of both approaches and offering scope to address the treatment gap. The present study examined the effectiveness of a blended intervention combining the use of guided internet-based self-help with four to six face-to-face sessions in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Method: A single group, open-label design was adopted with baseline, postintervention, and three-month follow-up assessments. The sample comprised 60 individuals with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder, dysthymia, or recurrent depressive disorder of mild or moderate severity meeting eligibility criteria. Standardized measures (self-report and clinician-rated) were used to examine the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing depression, improving functioning, self-esteem, and psychological recovery. A total of 40 participants completed the intervention and follow-up assessments. Results: Significant improvements were noted from baseline to post-assessment for both completers’ and intent-to-treat samples, with medium to large effect size on most outcome measures and maintenance of gains at follow-up. Eighty-five percent of the completers showed clinically significant improvement. Subgroups of blended intervention participants with and without pharmacotherapy showed similar outcomes. Completers were higher on interest in learning self-help skills and on the Growth subscale of psychological recovery, compared to the dropouts at baseline. Conclusion: The blended intervention demonstrated effectiveness in reducing depression and improving self-esteem, and functional and psychological recovery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b3240d2bce4541c492f95fbc7c26d50a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0253-7176 0975-1564 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-b3240d2bce4541c492f95fbc7c26d50a2025-08-20T02:27:29ZengSAGE PublishingIndian Journal of Psychological Medicine0253-71760975-15642025-03-014710.1177/02537176241238289Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from IndiaSindhuja Sudarshan0Seema Mehrotra1Jagadisha Thirthalli2 NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.Background: Depression is a common mental health disorder with a wide treatment gap despite the availability of a number of effective treatment options. Blended interventions adopt a novel approach in combining internet-based self-help with brief face-to-face sessions thereby combining the advantages of both approaches and offering scope to address the treatment gap. The present study examined the effectiveness of a blended intervention combining the use of guided internet-based self-help with four to six face-to-face sessions in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Method: A single group, open-label design was adopted with baseline, postintervention, and three-month follow-up assessments. The sample comprised 60 individuals with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder, dysthymia, or recurrent depressive disorder of mild or moderate severity meeting eligibility criteria. Standardized measures (self-report and clinician-rated) were used to examine the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing depression, improving functioning, self-esteem, and psychological recovery. A total of 40 participants completed the intervention and follow-up assessments. Results: Significant improvements were noted from baseline to post-assessment for both completers’ and intent-to-treat samples, with medium to large effect size on most outcome measures and maintenance of gains at follow-up. Eighty-five percent of the completers showed clinically significant improvement. Subgroups of blended intervention participants with and without pharmacotherapy showed similar outcomes. Completers were higher on interest in learning self-help skills and on the Growth subscale of psychological recovery, compared to the dropouts at baseline. Conclusion: The blended intervention demonstrated effectiveness in reducing depression and improving self-esteem, and functional and psychological recovery.https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176241238289 |
| spellingShingle | Sindhuja Sudarshan Seema Mehrotra Jagadisha Thirthalli Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from India Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine |
| title | Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from India |
| title_full | Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from India |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from India |
| title_short | Effectiveness of Blended Internet-based Self-help and Face-to-face Intervention for Depression: A Pilot Study from India |
| title_sort | effectiveness of blended internet based self help and face to face intervention for depression a pilot study from india |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176241238289 |
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