Self-guided psychological treatment for depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:A number of trials have examined the effects of self-guided psychological intervention, without any contact between the participants and a therapist or coach. The results and sizes of these trials have been mixed. This is the first quantitative meta-analysis, aimed at organizing and evaluating the literature, and estimating effect size. METHOD:We conducted systematic literature searches in PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase up to January 2010, and identified additional studies through earlier meta-analyses, and the references of included studies. We identified seven randomized controlled trials that met our inclusion criteria, with a total of 1,362 respondents. The overall quality of the studies was high. A post-hoc power calculation showed that the studies had sufficient statistical power to detect an effect size of d?=?0.19. RESULTS:The overall mean effect size indicating the difference between self-guided psychological treatment and control groups at post-test was d?=?0.28 (p<0.001), which corresponds to a NNT of 6.41. At 4 to 12 months follow-up the effect size was d?=?0.23. There was no indication for significant publication bias. CONCLUSIONS:We found evidence that self-guided psychological treatment has a small but significant effect on participants with increased levels of depressive symptomatology.

SUBMITTER: Cuijpers P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3119687 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature