Mechanisms of change in digital cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in patients with chronic back pain: A mediation analysis of a multicenter randomized clinical trial.
Change process
Chronic pain
Cross-lagged analyses
Depression
Digital mental health
Mediator
Journal
Behaviour research and therapy
ISSN: 1873-622X
Titre abrégé: Behav Res Ther
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0372477
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 2023
09 2023
Historique:
received:
31
03
2023
revised:
07
06
2023
accepted:
06
07
2023
medline:
28
8
2023
pubmed:
3
8
2023
entrez:
2
8
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
While there is evolving knowledge on change processes of digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of depression, little is known about how these interventions produce therapeutic change in the comorbid constellation of chronic back pain (CBP). Here, we examined whether the effects of a digital intervention to treat depression in patients with CBP are mediated by three pain-related variables (i.e., pain self-efficacy, pain-related disability, pain intensity). This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial conducted in routine care at 82 orthopedic clinics across Germany. In total, 209 adults with CBP and diagnosed depression (SCID interview) were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 104) or treatment-as-usual (n = 105). Cross-lagged mediation models were estimated to investigate longitudinal mediation effects of putative mediators with depression symptom severity (PHQ-9) as primary outcome at post-treatment. Longitudinal mediation effects were observed for pain self-efficacy (ß = -0.094, 95%-CI [-0.174, -0.014], p = 0.021) and pain-related disability (ß = -0.068, 95%-CI [-0.130, -0.001], p = 0.047). Furthermore, the hypothesized direction of the mediation effects was supported, reversed causation did not occur. Pain intensity did not reveal a mediation effect. The results suggest a relevant role of pain self-efficacy and pain-related disability as change processes in the treatment of depression for patients with CBP in routine care. However, further research is needed to disclose potential reciprocal relationships of mediators, and to extend and specify our knowledge of the mechanisms of change in digital CBT for depression.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
While there is evolving knowledge on change processes of digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of depression, little is known about how these interventions produce therapeutic change in the comorbid constellation of chronic back pain (CBP). Here, we examined whether the effects of a digital intervention to treat depression in patients with CBP are mediated by three pain-related variables (i.e., pain self-efficacy, pain-related disability, pain intensity).
METHODS
This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial conducted in routine care at 82 orthopedic clinics across Germany. In total, 209 adults with CBP and diagnosed depression (SCID interview) were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 104) or treatment-as-usual (n = 105). Cross-lagged mediation models were estimated to investigate longitudinal mediation effects of putative mediators with depression symptom severity (PHQ-9) as primary outcome at post-treatment.
RESULTS
Longitudinal mediation effects were observed for pain self-efficacy (ß = -0.094, 95%-CI [-0.174, -0.014], p = 0.021) and pain-related disability (ß = -0.068, 95%-CI [-0.130, -0.001], p = 0.047). Furthermore, the hypothesized direction of the mediation effects was supported, reversed causation did not occur. Pain intensity did not reveal a mediation effect.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest a relevant role of pain self-efficacy and pain-related disability as change processes in the treatment of depression for patients with CBP in routine care. However, further research is needed to disclose potential reciprocal relationships of mediators, and to extend and specify our knowledge of the mechanisms of change in digital CBT for depression.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37531807
pii: S0005-7967(23)00117-1
doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104369
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Randomized Controlled Trial
Multicenter Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
104369Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest HB reports to have received consultancy fees, fees for lectures or workshops from chambers of psychotherapists and training institutes for psychotherapists and license fees for an Internet-intervention. MD reports to have received fees for lectures as well as for workshops for different psychotherapy training institutes. All other authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with financial interest, or nonfinancial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.