Effects of an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention on preventing depression among workers: a randomized controlled trial

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860433
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Imamura Kotaro 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 特任助教 (80722793)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: うつ病 / 予防 / インターネット認知行動療法 / 労働者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the iCBT program on improving subthreshold depression using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design among workers employed in private companies in Japan. All of the workers in a corporate group (n=20,000) were recruited by an invitation e-mail. Participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to intervention or control groups (N = 353 for each group). The intervention group studied the iCBT program at a frequency of one lesson per week. Depression (Beck Depression Inventory II; BDI-II) and psychological distress (K6) were assessed at baseline, three-, six- and 12-month follow-ups for both intervention and control groups. The iCBT program showed a significant intervention effect on BDI-II and K6. The iCBT program may be useful for improving subthreshold depressive symptoms among healthy workers.

Free Research Field

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