Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39485666›Full record

SynthesisJournal of occupational rehabilitation2025

Evaluating the Efficacy of Telehealth-Based Treatments for Depression in Adults: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis.

Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Ali Bani-Fatemi, Tanya D Jackson, Anson Kwok Choi Li, Vijay Kumar Chattu, Ellina Lytvyak, Danika Deibert, Liz Dennett, Martin Ferguson-Pell, Reidar Hagtvedt and 4 more

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Behdin Nowrouzi-KiaReSTORE Lab, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada. behdin.nowrouzi.kia@utoronto.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5586-4282
Ali Bani-FatemiReSTORE Lab, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Tanya D JacksonDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 5-30 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.
Anson Kwok Choi LiReSTORE Lab, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Vijay Kumar ChattuReSTORE Lab, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Ellina LytvyakDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 5-30 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.
Danika DeibertDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 5-30 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.
Liz DennettGeoffrey and Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
Martin Ferguson-PellFaculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 2-545 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
Reidar HagtvedtDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 5-30 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.
Charl ElsDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 5-30 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.
Quentin Durand-MoreauDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 5-30 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.
Douglas P GrossDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 2-50 Corbett Hall, 8205 114 St NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G4, Canada.
Sebastian StraubeDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 5-30 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of work-related disability, and accessing telehealth therapies can be a promising modality for workers with MDD. Barriers to accessing in-person mental healthcare, such as limited availability and accessibility in rural and remote communities, financial constraints, and stigma, have highlighted the need for alternative approaches like telehealth. This study investigated the efficacy of telehealth interventions including CBT for adults over 18 diagnosed with MDD.

methodsThis rapid review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure a transparent methodology. Out of the 2549 studies screened, 19 were incorporated into the rapid review, and of those, 10 were included in the subsequent meta-analyses. Articles were screened independently by two reviewers, with the disagreements reconciled through discussion. A reviewer extracted data from eligible articles. Descriptive statistics and narrative syntheses were used to describe outcomes. Two meta-analyses were conducted to investigate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered by telehealth (tCBT). The first compared tCBT to in-person CBT (pCBT). The second meta-analysis compared tCBT to a control group that did not receive CBT or another telehealth-based treatment. Non-CBT interventions investigated within the non-CBT group included somatic rhythm therapy, problem-solving therapy, psychiatry, behavioral activation, and interpersonal psychotherapy.

resultsOverall, individuals with MDD who received tCBT showed significant improvement in depression symptoms. However, the efficacy of tCBT compared to non-telehealth control groups varied across studies. The first meta-analysis indicated the magnitudes of effect were similar for both interventions in reducing depression symptoms 0.023 (95% CI - 0.120 to 0.166); p = 1.00. In the second meta-analysis, the ratio of means comparing tCBT (0.51 ± 0.14 SD) to the control group (0.68 ± 0.12 SD) exhibited a statistically significant 25% reduction with regard to depression scores (one-sided p = 0.002), favouring tCBT to non-telehealth, non-CBT study groups.

conclusionsTelehealth-based CBT demonstrated positive effects on depression symptoms; it was generally superior when compared to control groups not receiving CBT and was on par with pCBT. The growing mental health burden in the community underscores the need for accessible telehealth services like tCBT. Effective policy formulation and implementation in national health agendas are essential to meet the increasing demand for mental health support.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyMajor Depressive DisorderTelemedicineAdultHumansTreatment OutcomeAnxietyCognitive behavioral therapyDepressionMental health, psychologyRapid reviewTelehealth

Identifiers

PMID39485666

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.