Computerized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Primary Care Patients with Depression

Evidence suggests that computerized cognitive-behavioral therapy (cCBT) is useful for treating patients with depression, but previous studies of this approach have had methodological flaws. In this multicenter trial from the U.K., researchers evaluated cCBT as an adjunct to usual care in nearly 700 adult primary care patients with depression (score on the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-9, ≥10). Patients were randomized to usual care plus either “Beating the Blues” (a commercially available cCBT program) or “MoodGYM” (a free cCBT program), or to usual care alone. Patients in both cCBT groups were encouraged weekly by phone to complete their programs.

At 4 months, about half the patients in each group remained depressed, with no significan…