To evaluate the efficacy of internet-based indicated prevention for anxiety and depressive disorders in reducing the onset of these conditions among adults with subthreshold symptoms.
Key Findings:
AD/DD onset was 19.4% in IG-IMI, 14.8% in AG-IMI, and 30.9% in WLC, with p < 0.001 indicating statistical significance.
Cumulative incidence was 23.1% (IG-IMI), 20.7% (AG-IMI), and 36.0% (WLC; p < 0.001).
Hazard ratios were 0.59 for IG-IMI and 0.47 for AG-IMI compared to WLC, indicating a significant reduction in risk.
Interpretation:
Both individually guided and automated internet-based interventions significantly reduced the incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders compared to the waitlist control, suggesting their potential as effective preventive measures.
Limitations:
The study relied on self-reported measures and diagnostic interviews, which may introduce bias.
Participant dropout rates varied across groups, potentially affecting the results and limiting generalizability.
Conclusion:
Internet-based interventions, whether individually or automatically guided, are effective in preventing the onset of anxiety and depressive disorders, highlighting the need for scalable mental health prevention strategies.
by Anna-Carlotta Zarski, Kiona K. Weisel, Thomas Berger, Tobias Krieger, Michael P. Schaub, Matthias Berking, Dennis Görlich, Corinna Jacobi, Rosa Baños, Cristina Botella, Rocio Herrero, David D. Ebert
