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Expectancy Effects in Self-Help Depression Treatment: First Evidence that the Rationale Given for an Online Study Impacts the Outcome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2017

Barbara Cludius ,
Johanna Schröder  and
Steffen Moritz
Barbara Cludius*
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, Germany
Johanna Schröder
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, Germany
Steffen Moritz
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, Germany
*
Correspondence to Barbara Cludius, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background: Positive expectations play an important role in effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). The way a study is contextualized modulates prognostic expectations. Aims: The aim of the study was to test the effect of differing information regarding the rationale given to participants for a study on depression symptoms. Method: Sixty-nine participants with depression symptoms participated in an online study with two conditions. In random order, half were invited to participate in a treatment study and half in a cognition study. After completing the baseline assessment, participants received one of two self-help manuals. Post-assessment was conducted six weeks later. Results: Only about 64% of the participants were reached for post-assessment, and adherence was low. However, our results offer the first evidence that stronger improvements emerged in participants who were told the trial was a treatment study compared with a cognition study. Conclusion: Information given about the rationale for a study could influence symptom reduction in online treatments for patients with MDD. Future (online) studies should attempt to replicate these results.

Keywords

major depressive disorderself-helponline studyexpectancy effect
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 46 , Issue 2 , March 2018 , pp. 195 - 208
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2017 

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