The Norwegian Version of MoodGYM - Internet based intervention preventing depression

1. The Norwegian Version of MoodGYM- Internet based intervention preventing depression Ove K. Lintvedt Andreas R. Østvik Kristian Sørensen Catharina Wang & Knut Waterloo Department of psychology, University of Tromsø

2. History of the BlueMood project • Plan of action for students with disabilities • Research: Assessing students’ needs and help seeking behaviour. • Designing interventions: • The PS- Portal • MoodGYM • BluePages

3. During the last year, did you feel a need for help with a mental health problem? (N= 741) 1. The group with an unmet need wants: Anonymity Competence (Professionals) Low threshold services Availability Alternative services: Contact / counselling - Internet (57,5%) Ove Lintvedt, Kristian Sørensen, Andreas R. Østvik, Hedvig Aasen Skarsvåg, Catharina E. Wang og Ingunn Skre Department of psychology, University of Tromsø

4. Student Survey 2005 • Assess students’ need for a planned Internet based intervention program preventing depression • 45% felt need – and 1/3 have sought help • felt need - more depressive symptoms, more negative thoughts, more Web health info, greater need for MoodGYM

5. Student surveys2003 & 2005 Need for help (%) 2003 2005 • Sought help 11,1 13,9 • Unmet need 22,7 31,9 • Total- felt need 33,8 45,8

6. Depression. • symptoms and information about diagnoses. • Treatment • which medical, psychological and alternative treatments work for depression. • Screening test • depression and anxiety • View ones own symptoms compared with others of the same age

7. Internet-based therapy program • Based on • cognitive behaviour therapy & interpersonal therapy • Designed to prevent depression among young people. • 5 modules, a workbook and some interactive extras. • Assessment of depression, anxiety, negative thinking, stressing life events and relationship with parents.

8. Depression & HelpSeeking • Depression • Worldwide - 340 million sufferers • Norway: 300.000 sufferers • Personal and socioeconomic cost • Relapse • Early intervention / Prevention • Help seeking • Considerable number of people omit seeking help • Social support • Fear of stigmatisation • Lack of knowledge • Low availability • Lack of anonymity

9. Internet • Offers • Availability • Anonymity • Low threshold • Low stress situation • Reduced risk of stigma and negative reactionsfrom others • Most common used in online therapy is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) • Text based therapy • Includes self registration, specific homework exercises, psycho education and filling out questionnaires.

10. Validation of BluePages and MoodGYM • Recruitement phase • Sample: All students in Tromsø (10 000) • Selection • Willingness to participate and level of symptoms of depression. • Main study • Experimental design (RCT)

11. Validation of BluePages and MoodGYM • Main study • Experimental condition (n=112) • Pre test: Symptoms of depression • Offered MoodGYM, BluePages and access to a private forum during a five week period. • Post test: Symptoms of depression

12. Validation of BluePages and MoodGYM • Main study • Control condition (n=104) • Pre test: Symptoms of depression • Offered no intervention during the project period • Post test: Symptoms of depression • Offered MoodGYM, BluePages and access to a private forum after the validation period is over

13. Preliminary results • The Preliminary results shows that the BlueMood Intervention is effective in reducing symptoms of depression • How easy was the websites to understand • 30% Very easy / 70% easy • Did you learn much from the websites? • 40% (A great deal), 50% (A fair bit), 10% (Not very much) • Have you done anything differently because of the websites? • 30% (Yes), 30% (No), 40% (not sure) • Sought more information • Tried a self-help treatment • Sought help from a health professional • Given advice about depression to someone else • Would you recommend this websites to others? • 40% (Yes, definitely), 60% (Probably)