Getting in Touch

Primary Care Research Network
East Midlands & South Yorkshire
Co-ordinating Centre
6th Floor, St John's House
30 East Street
Leicester LE1 6NB

E. judith.martin@emsy.nhs.uk
T. 0116 295 4080
F. 0116 295 4177

Studies A-Z > R > Reeact

REEACT: Computerised CBT for Depression


Background

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has emerged as the leading evidence-supported form of brief psychotherapy for people with depression.  However, it is unfeasible that demand for CBT can be met from existing therapist resources.

Primary care doctors therefore have relatively few treatment options other than antidepressant medication or referral to specialist psychology services, where long waiting lists are likely.

Computerised CBT represents an alternative form of therapy delivery that has the potential to enhance access to psychological therapy.  Various packages are available, some of which are commercial products and others are free-to-use.

However, we do not know how much more clinically and cost-effective computerised CBT is, compared to usual care alone.  We also do not know whether the additional cost of the commercial packages compared with the free-to-use versions is justified.

Research aims

This will be a fully randomised trial of usual GP care for depression versus the addition of one of two computerised CBT packages to usual GP care.  We will include a concurrent economic and qualitative evaluation to meet the following specific aims:

  • To establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the addition of computerised CBT to usual GP care over a two-year follow-up period
  • To establish the acceptability (to patients and clinicians) of computerised CBT
  • To establish the differential clinical and cost-effectiveness of a free-to-use computerised package, in comparison to a commercial pay-to-use computerised CBT package over a two-year and longer-term time horizon.

We plan to randomise 600 participants with depression, recruited in primary care, to either usual GP care, Beating the Blues plus usual GP care or MoodGYM plus usual GP care.  Clinical outcome will be measured at four, 12 and 24 months.  Recruitment will occur over two years.

This study is running in Trent and South Yorkshire hubs.  
For more information, please contact us.