Wenjing Zhou

Background: Unguided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is a low-cost and scalable treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), but its long-term effects in Chinese populations remain unclear. Objective: This study aimed (1) to explore the short- and long-term effectiveness of unguided ICBT in treating adults with MDD; (2) to investigate the short- and long-term effects on disease-related symptoms, individual and social functioning, and quality of life; and (3) to assess the acceptability and satisfaction with the ICBT. Methods: An 8-week randomized controlled trial (ChiCTR2100046425) was conducted between August 2021 and June 2023 in Shenzhen, China, with 159 participants in the immediate ICBT group (7-module ICBT course plus usual care) and 158 in the waitlist control (WLC) group (usual care). The WLC group later completed the same ICBT course and follow-up assessments. Outcome measures (depressive and anxiety symptoms, psychological distress, social functioning, self-efficacy, quality of life, and stigma) were assessed before and after treatment and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups for ICBT participants. Remission and response, adherence, and satisfaction were evaluated by predefined standards. Results: Among 300 participants analyzed (mean age 28.49, SD 7.0 years; female: n=225, 75%), dropout rates were 22.4% (34/152) in the immediate ICBT group versus 6.3% (10/158) in the WLC group. At posttreatment, the immediate ICBT group showed greater reduction in depressive symptoms versus WLC (mean difference −3.65, SE 0.60; P <.001; d =0.50), with higher remission (80/121, 66.1% vs 58/148, 39.2%; P <.001) and response rates (50/121, 41.3% vs 27/148, 18.2%; P <.001). At 12-month follow-up, the depressive symptoms were improved compared with that at pretreatment (mean difference −3.90, SE 0.32; P <.001; d =0.70), and no significant change was observed in comparison with the outcomes at posttreatment (mean difference −0.81, SE 0.33; P =.33; d =−0.15). ICBT treatment also exhibited similar short- and long-term effects on secondary outcomes, with significant improvement of disease-related symptoms, individual and social functioning, and quality of life. Moreover, the majority of the participants treated with ICBT reported high acceptability of and satisfaction with the ICBT course. Conclusions: Unguided ICBT effectively reduces depressive symptoms and enhances functioning in Chinese patients with MDD, with sustained benefits over 12 months. Its scalability and low-cost nature make it a promising option for resource-limited settings.

Background: To examine the independent association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and lifestyle patterns with incident probable eating disorders among adolescents, and to explore whether healthy lifestyle affects incident probable eating disorders that vary by ACEs exposure levels.Methods: This longitudinal study included 7726 adolescents (mean [SD] age at baseline, 15.89 [0.60] years) without eating disorders at baseline. At baseline, we collected 11 ACE indicators and 6 healthy lifestyle behaviors (i.e., appropriate sleep duration, sufficient moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, less screen time, no smoking, no drinking, and a balanced diet). The Sick, Control, One, Fat, Food (SCOFF) questionnaire was used to measure probable eating disorders at baseline and at a 4‐month follow‐up. Generalized mixed logistic models, as well as stratified and joint analyzes, were performed, with mediation and interaction analyzes.Results: Among the included participants, 917 adolescents (11.87%) developed probable eating disorders during follow‐up. Accumulation of ACEs was independently associated with an increased risk of incident probable eating disorders (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.14–1.27), even after adjusting for lifestyle behaviors. Conversely, a higher healthy lifestyle score was independently associated with a lower risk of incident probable eating disorders (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.76–0.88). Stratified analyzes showed that adolescents with a favorable lifestyle had a consistently reduced risk of incident probable eating disorders compared with those with an unfavorable lifestyle, with the association particularly pronounced among those exposed to ACEs.Conclusions: The results highlight that reducing exposure to ACEs and encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors may help prevent eating disorders among adolescents.

Background: Unguided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) has been proven effective for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, few studies have examined its cost-effectiveness in low-resource countries and under nonspecialist routine care. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term cost utility of unguided ICBT compared to a waitlist control for persons with MDD from the perspectives of society and the health care system. Methods: This analysis was implemented alongside an 8-week 2-arm randomized controlled trial with a 12-month follow-up period conducted in Shenzhen, China. Outcomes including cost and health utility were collected at the pretreatment and posttreatment time points and 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention. Direct medical costs and indirect costs were prospectively collected using the hospital information system and the Sheehan Disability Scale. Health outcomes were measured using the Chinese version of the Short-Form Six-Dimension health index. The primary outcome was incremental cost utility ratio (ICUR) expressed as the difference in costs between 2 therapies by the difference in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The seemingly unrelated regression model and the bootstrap method were performed to estimate adjusted ICURs. Cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were used to demonstrate uncertainty. A series of scenario analyses were conducted to verify the robustness of base-case results. Results: In total, 244 participants with MDD were randomly allocated to the ICBT (n=122, 50%) or waitlist control (n=122, 50%) groups. At the pretreatment time point, no statistically significant difference was observed in direct medical cost (P=.41), indirect cost (P=.10), or health utility (P=.11) between the 2 groups. In the base-case analysis, the ICBT group reported higher direct medical costs and better quality of life but lower total costs at the posttreatment time point. The adjusted ICURs at the posttreatment time point were CN ¥–194,720.38 (US $–26,551.50; 95% CI CN ¥–198,766.78 to CN ¥–190,673.98 [US $–27,103.20 to US $–25,999.70]) and CN ¥49,700.33 (US $6776.99; 95% CI CN ¥46,626.34-CN ¥52,774.31 [US $6357.83-$7196.15]) per QALY from the societal and health care system perspectives, respectively, with a probability of unguided ICBT being cost-effective of 75.93% and 54.4%, respectively, if the willingness to pay was set at 1 time the per-capita gross domestic product. In the scenario analyses, the probabilities increased to 76.85% and 77.61%, respectively, indicating the potential of ICBT to be cost-effective over the long term. Conclusions: Unguided ICBT is a cost-effective treatment for MDD. This intervention not only helps patients with MDD improve clinically but also generates societal savings. These findings provide health economic evidence for a potential scalable MDD treatment method in low- and middle-income countries. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2100046425; https://tinyurl.com/bdcrj4zv

BACKGROUND Unguided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) has been proven effective for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, few studies have examined its cost-effectiveness in low-resource countries and under nonspecialist routine care. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term cost utility of unguided ICBT compared to a waitlist control for persons with MDD from the perspectives of society and the health care system. METHODS This analysis was implemented alongside an 8-week 2-arm randomized controlled trial with a 12-month follow-up period conducted in Shenzhen, China. Outcomes including cost and health utility were collected at the pretreatment and posttreatment time points and 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention. Direct medical costs and indirect costs were prospectively collected using the hospital information system and the Sheehan Disability Scale. Health outcomes were measured using the Chinese version of the Short-Form Six-Dimension health index. The primary outcome was incremental cost utility ratio (ICUR) expressed as the difference in costs between 2 therapies by the difference in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The seemingly unrelated regression model and the bootstrap method were performed to estimate adjusted ICURs. Cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were used to demonstrate uncertainty. A series of scenario analyses were conducted to verify the robustness of base-case results. RESULTS In total, 244 participants with MDD were randomly allocated to the ICBT (n=122, 50%) or waitlist control (n=122, 50%) groups. At the pretreatment time point, no statistically significant difference was observed in direct medical cost (P=.41), indirect cost (P=.10), or health utility (P=.11) between the 2 groups. In the base-case analysis, the ICBT group reported higher direct medical costs and better quality of life but lower total costs at the posttreatment time point. The adjusted ICURs at the posttreatment time point were CN ¥–194,720.38 (US $–26,551.50; 95% CI CN ¥–198,766.78 to CN ¥–190,673.98 [US $–27,103.20 to US $–25,999.70]) and CN ¥49,700.33 (US $6776.99; 95% CI CN ¥46,626.34-CN ¥52,774.31 [US $6357.83-$7196.15]) per QALY from the societal and health care system perspectives, respectively, with a probability of unguided ICBT being cost-effective of 75.93% and 54.4%, respectively, if the willingness to pay was set at 1 time the per-capita gross domestic product. In the scenario analyses, the probabilities increased to 76.85% and 77.61%, respectively, indicating the potential of ICBT to be cost-effective over the long term. CONCLUSIONS Unguided ICBT is a cost-effective treatment for MDD. This intervention not only helps patients with MDD improve clinically but also generates societal savings. These findings provide health economic evidence for a potential scalable MDD treatment method in low- and middle-income countries. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2100046425; https://tinyurl.com/bdcrj4zv