The Efficacy of Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Patients With COVID-19: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.26883
• Publication Date: 2021-05-14T14:46:07Z
• Authors: Zhifen Liu; Dan Qiao; Yifan Xu; Wentao Zhao; Yang Yang; Dan Wen; Xinrong Li; Xiaoping Nie; Yongkang Dong; Shiyou Tang; Yi Jiang; Ying Wang; Juan Zhao; Yong Xu
• Keywords: Depression

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with COVID-19 is higher than usual. Previous studies have shown that there are drug-to-drug interactions between antiretroviral drugs antidepressants. Therefore, an effective safe treatment method was needed. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) the first-line psychological clinical treatment. Computerized CBT (cCBT) proven to be alternative does not require face-to-face a therapist patient, which suited pandemic response. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This study aims evaluate efficacy cCBT program we developed improving among COVID-19. <title>METHODS</title> We customized focused on COVID-19, then, assessed its effectiveness. Screening based depression or for who scored ≥7 Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD&lt;sub&gt;17&lt;/sub&gt;) Anxiety (HAMA). A total 252 at five sites were randomized into two groups: + as usual (TAU; n=126) TAU without (n=126). group received intervention 1 week. primary measures HAMD&lt;sub&gt;17&lt;/sub&gt; HAMA scores. secondary outcome Self-Rating (SDS), (SAS), Athens Insomnia (AIS). Assessments carried out pre- postintervention. patients’ one centers again within month after postintervention assessment. <title>RESULTS</title> displayed significantly decreased score HAMD&lt;sub&gt;17&lt;/sub&gt;, HAMA, SDS, SAS, AIS compared (all &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001). mixed-effects repeated model revealed significant improvement (HAMD&lt;sub&gt;17&lt;/sub&gt; SDS scores, both &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001), (HAMA SAS insomnia (AIS score, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.002) during follow-up periods group. Additionally, females (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.14) those middle school education (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.48) showed no differences when <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> findings this suggest nonpharmacological anxiety, depression, Further research warranted investigate long-term effects <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000030084; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=49952