Petrus Antonius Maria Meulenbeek

Acceptance and commitment therapy as a web-based intervention for depressive symptoms: randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND Depression is a highly prevalent disorder, causing a large burden of disease and substantial economic costs. Web-based self-help interventions seem promising in promoting mental health. AIMS To compare the efficacy of a guided web-based intervention based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with an active control (expressive writing) and a waiting-list control condition (Netherlands Trial Register NTR1296). METHOD Adults with depressive symptoms from the general population were randomised to ACT (n = 82), expressive writing (n = 67) or waiting-list control (n = 87). The main outcome was reduction in depressive symptoms assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression scale. RESULTS Significant reductions in depressive symptoms were found following the ACT intervention, compared with the control group (Cohens d = 0.56) and the expressive writing intervention (d = 0.36). The effects were sustained at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Acceptance and commitment therapy as a web-based public mental health intervention for adults with depressive symptoms can be effective and applicable.

The Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as a Public Mental Health Intervention for Adults with Mild to Moderate Depressive Symptomatology: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective Although there has been growing evidence for the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for different clinical populations, its effectiveness as a public mental health intervention has not been studied. The present study evaluates a community-based MBCT intervention for adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology in a large multi-site, pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Method The participants with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology were recruited from the general population and randomized to the MBCT intervention (n = 76) or to a waiting list control group (n = 75). Participants completed measures before and after the intervention. Participants in the experimental condition also completed these measures at a 3-month follow-up. Results In the experimental condition significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and experiential avoidance, and improvements in mindfulness and emotional- and psychological mental health were found, compared to the waiting list (effect sizes Cohens d = 0.31–0.56). These effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up. The likelihood of a clinically significant change in depressive symptoms was significantly higher for the MBCT group [odds ratio (OR) 3.026, p<0.01 at post-treatment; NNT = 5.10]. Discussion MBCT as a public mental health intervention for adults with mild to moderate depressive symptoms seems effective and applicable in a natural setting. Trial Registration Nederlands Trial Register NTR2096

Dropout prediction in a public mental health intervention for sub-threshold and mild panic disorder

Dropout is a common and serious problem in psychological research and practice. When participants terminate treatment prematurely, this may have methodological and clinical consequences. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of dropout in a sample of patients (N = 217) with sub-threshold and mild panic disorder treated with a public mental health intervention programme based on cognitive-behavioural principles. Three groups of possible baseline predictors were selected from the literature: (1) socio-demographic, (2) personal, and (3) illness-related variables. A total of 51 (23.5%) participants were classified as dropouts. Dropouts were further subdivided into pretreatment dropouts (n = 17) who attended no course sessions at all and regular dropouts (n = 34) who attended 1–5 course sessions. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of dropout. Few variables were significantly associated with increased odds of dropout and the total explained variance was small. Fewer years of education was the only independent predictor of total dropout and male gender was associated with more pretreatment dropout. No independent predictors were found for regular dropout. It can be concluded that it is difficult to precisely predict dropout risk in patients participating in a public mental health intervention for panic symptoms.

Well-Being Therapy in the Netherlands

ternative interpretations (e.g. ‘I have no reason to expect being rejected by others’, ‘There are no signs my wife wants to leave me, because she is nice to me’) and had positive experiences when he stayed in contact with others instead of avoiding contact. The PWS showed that he had impaired levels on the domains ‘purpose in life’ and ‘self-acceptance’. After the first 2 sessions, he decided to work 3 sessions on the domain ‘self-acceptance’ by writing about his talents (e.g. intelligent, reliable) and discussed his past (positive) life experiences with the therapist to become more self-compassionate. The last 3 sessions he worked on the domain ‘purpose in life’. He described important changes he wanted to reach in his life to make it more meaningful (e.g. socialize more in daily work, be active in positive relations) and made plans for the near future (e.g. visit friends weekly, spend more time with his wife during the weekends). At the end of the treatment he felt more selfconfident and fully recovered. Furthermore, he became more active, resumed playing football and working full time. He still remained well after 6 months of follow-up.