Cognitive behaviour therapy versus Self-examination therapy with depressive symptomatology.

Depression is highly prevalent: More than 15% of the adult population under 65 had major depression in their history according to DSM-III-R criteria. Minimal interventions are effective in the treatment for depression. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of two minimal interventions with adults reporting elevated depressive symptoms. The two interventions are cognitive-behavioural therapy (Color your life) and self-examination therapy.
People will be recruited through advertisements in local newspapers and websites. Inclusion criterion is a score of 16 or higher on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Participants are assigned on a random basis to the two treatment conditions and a delayed-treatment condition. Both interventions are delivered through computer administration. During the interventions respondents receive support by email. Respondents in the delayed-treatment condition receive the interventions three months later. Data are collected at baseline and at 5 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 9 months after baseline. Data are collected by email.

Cognitive behaviour therapy and Self-examination therapy are both more
effective in reducing depressive complaints than a waiting list control
group.

N/A

The cognitive-behavioural intervention is called Color your life (Kleur je leven). This intervention consists of 8 lessons (1 lesson a week). Four weeks later, the 9th lesson takes place. The intervention focuses on increasing pleasurable activities, increasing social skills and decreasing dysfunctional cognitions.



Self Examination Therapy is based on problem solving therapy. We use the Dutch version, called 'Alles onder controle'. This intervention takes 5 weeks. During this intervention participants determine what matters to them, think less negatively about things that do not matter to them, invest their energy in things that are important to them (by using problem-solving strategies) and accept situations they cannot change.



Both interventions are computer-based.