Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40349367›Full record

Trial reportTrends in psychiatry and psychotherapy2025

Digital interventions for depressive symptoms: a randomized clinical trial.

Júlio César Bebber, Bruno Braga Montezano, Analise de Souza Vivan, Thyago Antonelli-Salgado, Kyara Rodrigues de Aguiar, Aline Zimerman, Augusto Ossamu Shintani, Marta Braga Ryff Moreira, Roberta Campos, Lidiane Rodrigues and 14 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readEquivalence TrialRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Trends in psychiatry and psychotherapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05450614 (Smartphone App Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Online Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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.

NCT05450614 naunknown statusnot on this map

Smartphone App Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Online Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Randomized, Non-inferiority Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorHospital de Clinicas de Porto AlegreRan2022 to 2023Enrolled200ConditionsDepressive Disorder, MajorArmsThrive app, TCCG
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

24 authors.

Júlio César BebberLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Bruno Braga MontezanoLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Translacional em Medicina (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Analise de Souza VivanLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Thyago Antonelli-SalgadoLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Kyara Rodrigues de AguiarLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Aline ZimermanLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Augusto Ossamu ShintaniLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Marta Braga Ryff MoreiraLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Roberta CamposLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Lidiane RodriguesLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Guilenne Frisina ZaffariLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Glória MallmannLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Rafaela Fernandes PuliceLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
Victória Chiodelli SengerLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Juliana Rosendo VargasLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Camila ZimmerLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Mirian Cristina Dos Santos AmaralLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Gabriel Gonçalves VelosoLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Giancarlo Franceschi Dalla VecchiaLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Júlio César Bisognin LopezLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Faculdade de Medicina, Uruguaiana, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
André Russowsky BrunoniDepartamento de Psiquiatria da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Francisco Diego Rabelo-da-PonteSocial, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
Ives Cavalcante PassosLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Translacional em Medicina (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Daniela Tusi BragaLaboratório de Psiquiatria Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE), Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior 0001Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa e Eventos
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDepression is a prevalent mental health condition with a significant global burden, yet treatment coverage remains limited. Digital interventions offer a promising avenue for expanding access to evidence-based interventions.

methodsIn a three-arm randomized clinical trial, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of an app-based intervention and an online group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT) to reduce depressive symptoms compared to a waiting list control (WLC). Participants (N = 109) with PHQ-9 scores ≥ 9 were randomized into three groups. Informed consent was obtained. The primary outcome, depressive symptoms, was assessed at baseline and every 4 weeks over 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included anxiety symptoms, loneliness perception, and treatment-related adverse effects. We used one-tailed Student's t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests, adjusting p-values for false discovery rate. Statistical significance was set at 5%. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05450614.

resultsAfter excluding dropouts, 58 participants remained (28 app; 19 GCBT; 11 WLC). Most were women (app: 86%; GCBT: 89%; WLC: 100%) and identified as white (app: 61%; GCBT: 63%; WLC: 82%), aged 36 to 39, with high income and education. Only GCBT showed a significant reduction in anxiety (t(23.92) = 2.20, p = 0.019; padj = 0.038; Cohen's d = 0.81, 95%CI [0.17, ∞). The remaining comparisons were not statistically significant.

conclusionWhile only GCBT showed significant improvement in anxiety symptoms, both treatments showed trends toward depressive symptom reduction. High dropout rates and a small sample may have impacted results. Further research should assess the long-term impact and scalability of digital interventions in mental health.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyDepressionInternet-Based InterventionMobile ApplicationsPsychotherapy, GroupAdultAnxietyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTelemedicineDepressiondepressive symptomsdigital interventiongroup cognitive-behavioral therapysmartphone applications

Identifiers

PMID40349367
PMCPMC12956145

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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.