dc.contributor.author | Gellatly, Judith | en_GB |
dc.contributor.author | Bower, Peter | en_GB |
dc.contributor.author | Hennessy, Sue | en_GB |
dc.contributor.author | Richards, David | en_GB |
dc.contributor.author | Gilbody, Simon | en_GB |
dc.contributor.author | Lovell, Karina | en_GB |
dc.contributor.department | University of Exeter (David Richards - at the time of publication, the author was at the University of York) | en_GB |
dc.date.accessioned | 2008-12-19T12:33:44Z | en_GB |
dc.date.accessioned | 2011-01-25T12:00:49Z | en_GB |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-03-20T14:55:20Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2007-02 | en_GB |
dc.description.abstract | Background. Although self-help interventions are effective in treating depression, less is known
about the factors that determine effectiveness (i.e. moderators of effect). This study sought to
determine whether the content of self-help interventions, the study populations or aspects of study
design were the most important moderators.
Method. Randomized trials of the effectiveness of self-help interventions versus controls in the
treatment of depressive symptoms were identified using previous reviews and electronic database
searches. Data on moderators (i.e. patient populations, study design, intervention content) and
outcomes were extracted and analysed using meta-regression.
Results. Thirty-four studies were identified with 39 comparisons. Study design factors associated
with greater effectiveness were unclear allocation concealment, observer-rated outcome measures
and waiting-list control groups. Greater effectiveness was also associated with recruitment in
non-clinical settings, patients with existing depression (rather than those ‘at risk ’), contact with a
therapist (i.e. guided self-help) and the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques.
However, only guided self-help remained significant in the multivariate analysis [regression coefficient
0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05–0.68, p=0.03]. In the subset of guided studies,
there were no significant associations between outcomes and the session length, content, delivery
mode or therapist background.
Conclusions. The results provide some insights into moderators of self-help interventions, which
might assist in the design of future interventions. However, the present study did not provide a
comprehensive description, and other research methods might be required to identify factors
associated with the effectiveness of self-help. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.citation | Psychological Medicine, 2007, 37(9): pp. 1217-1228. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1017/S0033291707000062 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10036/46773 | en_GB |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Cambridge University Press | en_GB |
dc.relation.url | http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PSM | en_GB |
dc.subject | Self-help interventions | en_GB |
dc.subject | Depression | en_GB |
dc.title | What makes self-help interventions effective in the management of depressive symptoms? Meta-analysis and meta-regression. | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2008-12-19T12:33:44Z | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2011-01-25T12:00:49Z | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2013-03-20T14:55:20Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0033-2917 | en_GB |
dc.description | Reproduced with permission of the publisher. © 2007 Cambridge University Press. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.eissn | 1469-8978 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | Psychological Medicine | en_GB |