This study was supported by National Institute of Mental Health grant R01 MH59708 to Dr. Mohr.
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The Effect of Telephone-Administered Psychotherapy on Symptoms of Depression and Attrition: A Meta-Analysis
Article first published online: 21 AUG 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2850.2008.00134.x
© 2008 American Psychological Association
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How to Cite
Mohr, D. C., Vella, L., Hart, S., Heckman, T. and Simon, G. (2008), The Effect of Telephone-Administered Psychotherapy on Symptoms of Depression and Attrition: A Meta-Analysis. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 15: 243–253. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2850.2008.00134.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 21 AUG 2008
- Article first published online: 21 AUG 2008
- Received October 12, 2006; accepted April 27, 2007.
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- depression;
- meta-analysis;
- psychotherapy;
- telemental health
Increasingly, the telephone is being used to deliver psychotherapy for depression, in part as a means to reduce barriers to treatment. Twelve trials of telephone-administered psychotherapies, in which depressive symptoms were assessed, were included. There was a significant reduction in depressive symptoms for patients enrolled in telephone-administered psychotherapy as compared to control conditions (d = 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.14–0.39, p < .0001). There was also a significant reduction in depressive symptoms in analyses of pretreatment to posttreatment change (d = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.50–1.13, p < .0001). The mean attrition rate was 7.56% (95% CI = 4.23–10.90). These findings suggest that telephone-administered psychotherapy can produce significant reductions in depressive symptoms. Attrition rates were considerably lower than rates reported in face-to-face psychotherapy.