Trial reportPloS one2015
Smartphone-Supported versus Full Behavioural Activation for Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Trial report in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01819025 (Face-to-face CBT Treatment of Depression With Smartphone Support), which is not on this map. Cited by 81 papers, 18 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Face-to-face CBT Treatment of Depression With Smartphone Support
Who cites it
81 citing papers in PubMed, 18 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 187 citations in OpenAlex.
- "It's Not Only Attention We Need": Systematic Review of Large Language Models in Mental Health Care.JMIR mental health · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Digital Behavioral Activation Interventions for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Next-Generation Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression: Integrating Digital Tools, Teletherapy, and Personalization for Enhanced Mental Health Outcomes.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Pooled it
- Smartphone apps for mental health: systematic review of the literature and five recommendations for clinical translation.BMJ open · 2025Pooled it
- Acceptability of Digital Mental Health Interventions for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Pooled it
- Mobile applications in adolescent psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.Frontiers in public health · 2024Pooled it
- Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Pooled it
- Effectiveness and Acceptance of Technology-Based Psychological Interventions for the Acute Treatment of Unipolar Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Smartphone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among Patients With Major Depression: Systematic Review of Health Implications.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2021Pooled it
- Behavioural activation therapy for depression in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- Engaging Children and Young People in Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review of Modes of Delivery, Facilitators, and Barriers.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- Therapeutic Alliance in Technology-Based Interventions for the Treatment of Depression: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- Smartphone Apps for the Treatment of Mental Disorders: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of the Evidence Supporting Mobile- and Internet-Based Psychological Interventions For Self-Harm.Suicide & life-threatening behavior · 2020Pooled it
- Methodological Challenges in Randomized Controlled Trials on Smartphone-Based Treatment in Psychiatry: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2019Pooled it
- Assessing the Efficacy of Mobile Health Apps Using the Basic Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2017Pooled it
- Toward the Design of Evidence-Based Mental Health Information Systems for People With Depression: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2017Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Activation Apps for Depression.PloS one · 2016Pooled it
- Evaluation of the internet-based intervention "Selfapy" in participants with unipolar depression and the impact on quality of life: a randomized, parallel group study.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2024Trial
- A pilot study investigating the efficacy of brief, phone-based, behavioral interventions for burnout in graduate students.Journal of clinical psychology · 2021Trial
21 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThere is need for more cost and time effective treatments for depression. This is the first randomised controlled trial in which a blended treatment--including four face-to-face sessions and a smartphone application--was compared against a full behavioural treatment. Hence, the aim of the current paper was to examine whether a blended smartphone treatment was non-inferior to a full behavioural activation treatment for depression.
methodsThis was a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial (NCT01819025) comparing a blended treatment (n=46) against a full ten-session treatment (n=47) for people suffering from major depression. Primary outcome measure was the BDI-II, that was administered at pre- and post-treatment, as well as six months after the treatment.
resultsResults showed significant improvements in both groups across time on the primary outcome measure (within-group Cohen's d=1.35; CI [-0.82, 3.52] to d=1.47; CI [-0.41, 3.35]; between group d=-0.13 CI [-2.37, 2.09] and d=-0.10 CI [-2.53, 2.33]). At the same time, the blended treatment reduced the therapist time with an average of 47%.
conclusionsWe could not establish whether the blended treatment was non-inferior to a full BA treatment. Nevertheless, this study points to that the blended treatment approach could possibly treat nearly twice as many patients suffering from depression by using a smartphone application as add-on. More studies are needed before we can suggest that the blended treatment method is a promising cost-effective alternative to regular face-to-face treatment for depression.
trial registrationCognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment of Depression With Smartphone Support NCT01819025.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.