Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42398066›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2026

Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Older Adults With Symptoms of Depression: Feasibility Cohort Study.

Khadicha Amarti, Mieke H J Schulte, Annet Kleiboer, Claire Rosalie van Genugten, Mardien Oudega, Artur Rocha, Heleen Riper

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Khadicha AmartiDepartment of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology Section, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-0586-6407
Mieke H J SchulteDepartment of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology Section, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-4295-1141
Annet KleiboerDepartment of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology Section, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-8040-5697
Claire Rosalie van GenugtenDepartment of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology Section, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-3209-4673
Mardien OudegaDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-1521-1682
Artur RochaTechnology and Science, Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-5637-1041
Heleen RiperDepartment of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology Section, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-8144-8901

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDepressive symptoms are common among older adults and can significantly impact their quality of life. However, many older adults face barriers to accessing psychological treatment. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is a promising alternative to face-to-face treatments, but its feasibility among older adults has been less extensively studied than in adult populations.

objectiveThis study evaluated the feasibility of guided iCBT for adults aged 55 years and older with mild to moderate depressive symptoms recruited from the general population.

methodsThis study is a feasibility study with a single-group, pretest-posttest design (n=21), in which all participants received guided iCBT for 8 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0) and after the intervention (T1). The primary outcome was feasibility, conceptualized as satisfaction, usability, engagement, and uptake of iCBT. Secondary outcome measures included depression severity, working alliance, and technical alliance.

resultsParticipants were mostly highly educated (13/21, 61.9%), female (18/21, 85.7%), had an average age of 59.85 (SD 4.19; range 55-68) years, and reported moderate digital literacy. Feasibility outcomes indicated high satisfaction and engagement and moderate usability. Working alliance was rated as good by both participants and coaches, and technical alliance was rated as moderate by the participants. There was a nonsignificant modest decrease in depressive symptoms (Cohen d=0.47). Of the 20 participants who started the intervention, all completed the first 2 modules, but completion declined across the remaining 6 modules, with only 1 (5%) participant completing all modules.

conclusionsThis study found that guided iCBT has the potential to be a feasible option for older adults experiencing depressive symptoms, with participants reporting generally positive satisfaction, moderate engagement, and a moderate therapeutic bond with their coaches. However, below-average usability ratings and a moderate technical alliance suggest that some aspects of the platform require improvement. Future research should focus on improving usability and adherence, as well as testing the intervention in a larger and more diverse population.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyDepressionAgedCohort StudiesDigital MediaFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient Satisfactiondepressive disorderfeasibilityinternet-based cognitive behavioral therapyolder adultsonline intervention

Identifiers

PMID42398066
PMCPMC13379698

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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.