The Depression: Online Therapy Study (D:OTS)—A Pilot Study of an Internet-Based Psychodynamic Treatment for Adolescents with Low Mood in the UK, in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nick Midgley, Brenda Guerrero-Tates, Rose Mortimer, Julian Edbrooke-Childs, Jakob Mechler, Karin Lindqvist, Susan Hajkowski, Liat Leibovich, Peter Martin, Gerhard Andersson, George Vlaescu, Peter Lilliengren, Annabel Kitson, Pamela Butler-Wheelhouse and Björn Philips
Additional contact information
Nick Midgley: The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK
Brenda Guerrero-Tates: The Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6DH, UK
Rose Mortimer: The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK
Julian Edbrooke-Childs: The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK
Jakob Mechler: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Karin Lindqvist: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Susan Hajkowski: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derby DE22 3LZ, UK
Liat Leibovich: Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, Ruppin Academic Center, Hefer Valley 4025000, Israel
Peter Martin: The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK
Gerhard Andersson: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
George Vlaescu: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Peter Lilliengren: Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Bräcke Sköndal University College, 116 28 Stockholm, Sweden
Annabel Kitson: The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK
Pamela Butler-Wheelhouse: The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 9JH, UK
Björn Philips: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: Introduction: Face-to-face therapy is unavailable to many young people with mental health difficulties in the UK. Internet-based treatments are a low-cost, flexible, and accessible option that may be acceptable to young people. This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of an English-language adaptation of internet-based psychodynamic treatment (iPDT) for depressed adolescents, undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Methods: A single-group, uncontrolled design was used. A total of 23 adolescents, 16–18 years old and experiencing depression, were recruited to this study. Assessments were made at baseline and end of treatment, with additional weekly assessments of depression and anxiety symptoms. Results: Findings showed that it was feasible to recruit to this study during the pandemic, and to deliver the iPDT model with a good level of treatment acceptability. A statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms and emotion dysregulation was found, with large effect size, by the end of treatment. Whilst anxiety symptoms decreased, this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The findings suggest that this English-language adaptation of iPDT, with some further revisions, is feasible to deliver and acceptable for adolescents with depression. Preliminary data indicate that iPDT appears to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Keywords: internet-based therapy; adolescents; depression; psychodynamic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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