The Impact of a Novel Computerized CBT CD Rom (Overcoming Depression) Offered to Patients Referred to Clinical Psychology

Abstract

A new CBT based CD Rom (Williams, Taylor, Aubin, Harkin and Cottrell, 2002) was introduced as a way of offering a clinical psychology waiting-list initiative for patients with depression and depression with anxiety. This study evaluated the impact of this computerized cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) on consecutive referrals. Six hourly sessions of the interactive computer programme were offered to clients on the waiting list, to be completed by them with some support from a self-help support nurse. Seventy-eight consecutive referrals were offered an appointment for CCBT; 20 (26%) attended at least one session of CCBT and 14 (70% of starters) completed all six hour-long sessions. Beck Depression Inventory scores (BDI-II) fell from a mean of 28.15 (SD 11.41) to 20.00 (SD 10.41) (p = .000) over the 6-week intervention period using an intention to treat analysis. The discussion asks why only a quarter of patients on this psychology waiting list chose to use a CBT CD-Rom, but also notes that those who did use it had clinically and statistically significant reductions in their reported symptoms of depression.