Dorfman, Lisette. The effects of a cognitive behavioral computer based program on depressed inpatients. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3W094WW
DescriptionMajor depression is a serious medical illness affecting millions of American adults in a given year. Often anxiety as well as negative automatic thoughts co-occurs in individuals with depression. Although a significant problem, few have access to effective treatments for depression. One solution that has the potential to be disseminated on a large scale in a cost effective manner is a computerized cognitive behavioral therapy program. Cognitive Therapy: A Multimedia Learning Program (CTMP) is the first designed and tested multimedia program for computer assisted therapy (Wright & Wright, 1997). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a computerized based cognitive behavioral therapy program, Cognitive Therapy: A Multimedia Learning Program, for the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and automatic thoughts in a select population of depressed hospitalized psychiatric patients. It was hypothesized that subjects who participate in this computerized intervention would have a greater decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, automatic thoughts and shorter length of stay compared to the depressed usual treatment group. A sample of 86 subjects were recruited and randomized into either the usual treatment group or the computerized cognitive behavioral therapy group. A demographic data questionnaire, medication questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire were utilized. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), independent sample t-test, and paired-sample t-test analyses were used to test the research hypotheses. The results did not support the Cognitive Therapy: A Multimedia Learning Program to be more effective than the usual treatment group. However, the results supported that this program was effective in the reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and negative automatic thoughts at the time of discharge. There are several explanations related to the research design that could have accounted for this outcome. The results of this study have significant implications for the future within the context of the Affordable Care Act. The Cognitive Therapy: A Multimedia Learning Program has the potential to improve the quality of care, ensure access to care via new technologies and be cost effective for a vulnerable population such as psychiatric patients. Nurses will have an essential role in furthering this research as well as integrating this program into their professional practice.