Internet Intervention for the Prevention of Depression - Approaches to Improving Mood (AIM)

Depression is common, with one-year prevalence rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) estimated to be between 6.6-10.3% in the general population. Depression imposes a very high societal burden in terms of cost, morbidity, suffering, and mortality. Yet only about 20% of all patients referred for psychotherapy ever enter treatment, and of those who initiate treatment, nearly half drop out before completion. Given the limitations of treatment and the significant burden of depression, research into the prevention of depression is needed. There is a dearth of research related to the effective prevention of depression.

Delivering an intervention through telecommunication technologies, such as the telephone and Internet, has the potential to overcome many of the barriers to existing depression prevention interventions. For example, telephone- and Web-based interventions can reduce cost, extend specialized treatment over broad geographic areas, and permit considerable flexibility in scheduling of treatment components. Approaches to Improving Mood (AIM) is a specific form of a telecommunication behavioral intervention that incorporates Web-based Internet, e-mail, and telephone intervention. Further study is needed to determine the effectiveness of AIM in preventing depressive symptoms and improving attrition from treatment rates in people at risk for MDD. The study will compare the effectiveness of the AIM program with a one year surveillance follow up with the effectiveness of the AIM program alone and a website offering information on depression prevention in preventing depressive symptoms and improving treatment adherence in individuals at risk of MDD.

Participation in the treatment phase of this study will last 12 weeks. All participants will first undergo initial assessments that will include a telephone interview and a series of questionnaires about mood. Eligible participants will then be assigned randomly to receive AIM + surveillance, AIM alone, or the education website. All participants will undergo 12 weeks of a Web-based Internet intervention consisting of modules to help them learn skills to manage their moods. Participants will be asked to access the Web site every day or two to complete the modules and to practice the learned techniques. Participants assigned to AIM + surveillance and AIM alone will also receive a weekly telephone-based motivational intervention from a coach and will be able to communicate with the coach via email throughout the first 12 weeks of treatment. Participants assigned to the education group will be given access to a website but no assistance from a coach. All participants will undergo repeat initial assessments at Weeks 6, 12 (end of treatment) and at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months following the completion of treatment.