Houston Thomas K, Cooper Lisa A, Ford Daniel E
Department of Medicine, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2024 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Dec;159(12):2062-8. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.12.2062.
This study described the characteristics of users of Internet-based depression support groups and assessed whether use predicts change in depression symptoms and social support.
Users (N=103) of these groups were recruited into the study cohort and followed prospectively. Demographic characteristics, support group use, depression care, score on the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, and score on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D Scale) were assessed by Internet survey at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
Users' demographic characteristics included median age of 40 years, 78.6% women, and 56.3% unmarried. Most (86.4%) were currently depressed (CES-D Scale score >22). Over 50% of participants heavily used the support group (5 or more hours in 2 weeks), and 37.9% preferred online communication to face-to-face counseling. Social support scores were low, compared with those from other studies of primary care patients with depression. The overall follow-up rate was 81.6% at 6 or 12 months. During follow-up, 72.6% of responders still participated in the online group; 81.0% were still receiving face-to-face depression care. Heavy users of the Internet groups were more likely to have resolution of depression (CES-D Scale score < or =22) during follow-up than less frequent users, after adjustment for age, gender, employment, and baseline CES-D Scale score with logistic regression. Social support scores did not change during follow-up.
Users had high depression severity scores, were socially isolated, and perceived considerable benefit from the group. Internet depression support groups warrant continued research regarding supplementation of face-to-face depression care.
本研究描述了基于互联网的抑郁症支持小组用户的特征，并评估了使用该小组是否能预测抑郁症状和社会支持的变化。
招募这些小组的用户（N = 103）进入研究队列并进行前瞻性随访。通过互联网调查在基线、6个月和12个月时评估人口统计学特征、支持小组的使用情况、抑郁症护理、医学结局研究社会支持调查得分以及流行病学研究中心抑郁量表（CES - D量表）得分。
用户的人口统计学特征包括年龄中位数为40岁，女性占78.6%，未婚者占56.3%。大多数（86.）目前患有抑郁症（CES - D量表得分>22）。超过50%的参与者大量使用支持小组（两周内5小时或更多），37.9%的人更喜欢在线交流而非面对面咨询。与其他针对抑郁症初级护理患者的研究相比，社会支持得分较低。6个月或12个月时的总体随访率为81.6%。在随访期间，72.6%的应答者仍参与在线小组；81.0%的人仍在接受面对面的抑郁症护理。在通过逻辑回归对年龄、性别、就业情况和基线CES - D量表得分进行调整后，互联网小组的频繁使用者在随访期间比不频繁使用者更有可能缓解抑郁（CES - D量表得分≤22）。随访期间社会支持得分没有变化。
用户的抑郁严重程度得分较高，社交孤立，且从小组中获得了相当大的益处。互联网抑郁症支持小组在补充面对面抑郁症护理方面值得继续研究。
