A Computerized Intervention for Depression

An interactive multimedia computer-based treatment program was developed to provide an electronic version of problem solving therapy for depression (imbPST). The program was entirely automated and did not require the involvement of a live clinician, even though it was designed to provide a "virtual therapy" experience that feels more like interacting with a person than with a computer. The imbPST program was built to help individuals who did not have access to traditional therapy due the living conditions or individual preferences (e.g. rural, poor and persons desiring privacy or with significant time constraints). This computer-based treatment of depression offered several advantages. It can be used anywhere without a therapist present, and offered a standardized and consistent therapeutic approach.

The aim of this study is to reduce symptoms of depression in subjects through the use of a new, electronic Problem Solving Treatment (imbPST). Adult participants with moderate to severe depression symptoms are randomly assigned to either treatment or a wait-list condition. The Beck Depression Inventory-II was used as the primary outcome measure

Inclusion criteria

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Present symptoms from the following criteria based on the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR): Major Depressive Episode, Mood Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition and/or Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood.
• Depression must be the primary diagnosis and not occur secondary to any another diagnosis such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), social phobia, or complicated bereavement, though comorbid diagnoses (e.g., anxiety disorders and PTSD) will not be exclusionary unless they are primary, except as specified below.
• Not receiving psychological treatment (e.g., face to face) at the time of the study.
• Not currently be receiving Problem Solving Treatment in any other context.
• Not reporting/reported suicidal attempts in the year prior to their participation in the study.
• Be able to write and speak English according to Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM test scores)

Exclusion criteria

• Current suicidal ideation, history of suicidal attempts or self-injurious behavior at any point during the protocol.
• Have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, with psychosis, other disorder with psychotic symptoms, and/or brain injuries that includes loss of consciousness > 15 minutes and / post-traumatic amnesia of any duration.
• Any history of treatment with anti-psychotic medication.
• A felony conviction.
• Any current or recent (i.e. within the previous 6 months) substance abuse/dependence diagnosis (other than nicotine or caffeine).
• Current psychological treatment (e.g., face to face).