Mechanisms of change in digital interventions for depression: Protocol for an individual participant data meta-analysis

Abstract

Digital interventions for depression might have the potential to extend and augment evidence-based treatements for this common mental disorder. Although the efficacy of digital interventions for depressive disorders is well established (Karyotaki et al., 2017; Karyotaki et al., 2018; Karyotaki et al., 2021; Königbauer et al., 2017; Reins et al., 2020), comprehensive and integrated knowledge about their mechanisms of change is largely pending. Precise information on the mediators and mechanisms of change in these interventions is crucial, in order to advance intervention development and clinical practice, contributing to more effective interventions and improved treatment outcomes (Domhardt, Cuijpers et al., 2021; Domhardt, Steubl et al., 2021). The project "Mechanisms of change in internet- and mobile-based interventions for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data (howIMIwork)" is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; Grant Identification FKZ 01KG1802). References: Domhardt, M., Cuijpers, P., Ebert, D. D., & Baumeister, H. (2021). More Light? Opportunities and Pitfalls in Digitalized Psychotherapy Process Research. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 544129. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.544129 Domhardt, M., Steubl, L., Boettcher, J., Buntrock, C., Karyotaki, E., Ebert, D. D., Cuijpers, P., & Baumeister, H. (2021). Mediators and mechanisms of change in internet- and mobile-based interventions for depression: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 83, 101953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101953 Karyotaki, E., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Hoogendoorn, A., Kleiboer, A., Mira, A., Mackinnon, A., Meyer, B., Botella, C., Littlewood, E., Andersson, G., Christensen, H., Klein, J. P., Schroder, J., Breton-Lopez, J., Scheider, J., Griffiths, K., Farrer, L., Huibers, M. J., . . . Cuijpers, P. (2017). Efficacy of Self-guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms: A Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(4), 351–359. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0044 Karyotaki, E., Ebert, D. D., Donkin, L., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Burger, S., Rozental, A., Lange, A., Williams, A. D., Zarski, A. C., Geraedts, A., van Straten, A., Kleiboer, A., Meyer, B., Ünlü Ince, B. B., Buntrock, C., Lehr, D., Snoek, F. J., Andrews, G., . . . Cuijpers, P. (2018). Do guided internet-based interventions result in clinically relevant changes for patients with depression? An individual participant data meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 63, 80–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2018.06.007 Karyotaki, E., Efthimiou, O., Miguel, C., Bermpohl, F. M. G., Furukawa, T. A., Cuijpers, P., Riper, H., Patel, V., Mira, A., Gemmil, A. W., Yeung, A. S., Lange, A., Williams, A. D., Mackinnon, A., Geraedts, A., van Straten, A., Meyer, B., Björkelund, C., Knaevelsrud, C., . . . Forsell, Y. (2021). Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Network Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(4), 361–371. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4364 Königbauer, J., Letsch, J., Doebler, P., Ebert, D. D., & Baumeister, H. (2017). Internet- and mobile-based depression interventions for people with diagnosed depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 223, 28–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.021 Reins, J. A., Buntrock, C., Zimmermann, J., Grund, S., Harrer, M., Lehr, D., Baumeister, H., Weisel, K., Domhardt, M., Imamura, K., Kawakami, N., Spek, V., Nobis, S., Snoek, F., Cuijpers, P., Klein, J. P., Moritz, S., & Ebert, D. D. (2020). Efficacy and Moderators of Internet-Based Interventions in Adults with Subthreshold Depression: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1159/00050781