Increasing access to evidence-based psychological treatments for adolescent depression with technological solutions

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for mild to moderate major depressive disorder (MDD).

Yet, the majority of affected adolescents do not get access to CBT mainly due to the lack of trained professionals and geographical barriers. Thus, innovative ways to deliver and disseminate evidence-based treatment are needed. We have developed an internet-delivered CBT intervention (ICBT) for adolescents with MDD.

Preliminary results from a pilot study (N=32) suggests that the ICBT intervention, both as guided (with therapist-support) and unguided (without therapist-support) is a feasible and acceptable treatment.

We propose to establish the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and long-term effects of ICBT for adolescents with mild to moderate MDD in a RCT (N=225) with three-arms; guided ICBT and unguided ICBT vs treatment as usual (TAU).

We will utilize non-invasive eye tracking technology and computational psychiatry to develop and test novel markers that can be used to aid diagnosis and prediction of treatment response. Project organization and equipment is in place.

If ICBT proves to be efficacious for adolescents with mild to moderate MDD the project could add a novel and potentially cost-effective way to deliver evidence based behavioral treatment to this group and could increase the availability of such treatment by breaking down geographical barriers. If ICBT could be delivered without therapist support, even more adolescents with depression can receive help.