Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Effects on Depressive Cognitions and Brain Function.

摘要

The study is progressing well. Thus far, data collection has been completed for 40% of the target enrollment for the healthy control (HC) sample and 51.6% of target enrollment for the depressed sample. Recruitment efforts have been strong and at a pace that should accomplish full data collection within the coming year. Preliminary findings are encouraging, suggesting trends toward reduced depressive symptoms in the active internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (iCBT) condition compared to the monitored control (MC) group for depression and anxiety outcome measures including PHQ-9, K-10, HAMD, and BAI. Statistically significant reductions in anhedonia symptoms were evident in the iCBT compared to the MC group. The iCBT group also shows statistically significant reduction in cognitive interference compared to the MC group. Preliminary neuroimaging data also confirm deficits in prefrontal activation and increased amygdala responses to subtle facial cues of anger among the depressed sample compared to the HCs. Depressed participants also show reduced functional connectivity between middle cingulate regions and bilateral insular cortex. Finally, depressed participants also show reduced fractional anisotropy, a measure of white matter axonal integrity, compared to HCs. This study is on track to provide important information regarding the effectiveness and neural correlates of iCBT.