Additional file 1: of Online interventions for problem gamblers with and without co-occurring problem drinking: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

SPIRIT 2013 Checklist: Recommended items to address in a clinical trial protocol and related documents. (DOC 121 kb

The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Internet support groups (ISGs) are popular, particularly among people with depression, but there is little high quality evidence concerning their effectiveness.</p> <h3>Aim</h3><p>The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an ISG for reducing depressive symptoms among community members when used alone and in combination with an automated Internet-based psychotherapy training program.</p> <h3>Method</h3><p>Volunteers with elevated psychological distress were identified using a community-based screening postal survey. Participants were randomised to one of four 12-week conditions: depression Internet Support Group (ISG), automated depression Internet Training Program (ITP), combination of the two (ITP+ISG), or a control website with delayed access to e-couch at 6 months. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, 6 and 12 months.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>There was no change in depressive symptoms relative to control after 3 months of exposure to the ISG. However, both the ISG alone and the combined ISG+ITP group showed significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms at 6 and 12 months follow-up than the control group. The ITP program was effective relative to control at post-intervention but not at 6 months.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>ISGs for depression are promising and warrant further empirical investigation.</p> <h3>Trial Registration</h3><p>Controlled-Trials.com <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN65657330">ISRCTN65657330</a></p> </div

Observed proportion of cases for each intervention as a function of measurement occasion.

<p>Observed proportion of cases for each intervention as a function of measurement occasion.</p

Mixed effects logistic regression model parameters and significance tests for depression caseness by occasion of measurement and intervention.

<p>Notes: Reference conditions were Baseline occasion of measurement and HealthWatch intervention.</p

Number (%) of CES-D completers (C) and non-completers (NC) for each condition at each follow-up among those providing consent for participation (n = 311).

<p>Note: There was no statistical difference in dropout rates for the conditions which share the same subscript.</p

Participant flow through the study.

<p>Participant flow through the study.</p

Characteristics of participants in each condition at baseline.^*

<p>Values are numbers (percentages) unless otherwise stated.</p><p>M = Mean. sd = standard deviation. CES-D Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression. K10 = Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. ITP – Internet training program (e-couch); ISG – Internet support group (WellBeing Board); ITP+ISG –Training program and support group combined; Control (HealthWatch).</p>*<p>Excludes the participants who dropped out prior to baseline (n = 12) and the participant who did not provide sufficient CES-D data to compute at least one CES-D score (n = 1).</p>†<p>Participants were permitted to endorse more than one website; therefore percentages do not sum to 100.</p

Intervention adherence for the participants who provided at least one CES-D measure (n = 298).

*<p>Excludes data from delayed access to e-couch.</p