Flashcard library · Medicine & Health · PaperFren
Can a CBT phone app help stubborn depression?
Adding a smartphone CBT program to a medication switch improved depressive symptoms more than switching antidepressants alone.
Keep what you just learned
Save these 11 cards to your NoteFren library. Your first review starts right away, and each card links back to the study it came from.
What clinical population did this RCT enroll?
Adults with major depression that remained symptomatic after antidepressant treatment (refractory depression), who then underwent a protocol medication switch.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
What was the primary outcome and when was it measured?
PHQ-9 depression severity at week 9.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
How did smartphone CBT affect week-9 PHQ-9 scores versus medication change alone?
The CBT app group scored 2.48 points lower on PHQ-9 (SMD 0.40), a statistically significant improvement.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
Did more patients achieve clinical response with the app?
Yes—response was more common with smartphone CBT (OR 2.73).
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
Was remission significantly improved?
Remission odds were higher (OR 2.02) but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=.08).
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
What antidepressant change was part of the protocol?
A switch to escitalopram or sertraline as the protocol antidepressant treatment.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
How adherent were patients to the CBT app sessions?
99% completed at least half the sessions and 88% completed at least six of eight sessions.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
What CBT techniques did the app emphasize?
Self-monitoring mind maps, behavioural activation experiments, and cognitive restructuring alternative thoughts.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
How complete was primary outcome follow-up?
Week-9 PHQ-9 data were available for 163 of 164 randomized participants (99.4%).
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
What does this trial add beyond prior app studies?
It tested a CBT smartphone app as an adjunct to medication change in clinically diagnosed major depression against a control condition in an RCT.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified
Were side effects clearly reduced by adding CBT?
Side-effect burden was somewhat lower with CBT but the difference was not statistically significant.
Source: Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy for Refractory Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial · DOI · quote verified