# Scheduled telephone support in internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for depression: randomized controlled trials of two populations

## TL;DR

Adding scheduled phone calls to online therapy for depression improves treatment adherence but doesn't always improve symptom improvement.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that scheduled telephone support improves adherence in iCBT for depression.

## Key findings

- Depression symptoms improved in both iCBT groups with or without scheduled telephone support.
- Scheduled telephone support increased adherence to iCBT therapy.
- Symptom improvement was not enhanced by scheduled telephone support in the general population.

## Abstract

Among patients receiving internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) for depression in routine clinical practice, 101 patients were randomized to either iCBT as usual or to iCBT with add-on scheduled telephone support (STS). Depression symptoms improved in both groups. STS increased adherence, as measured by reaching mid-treatment and completing therapy. Unlike in our previously reported population at risk of dropout, STS did not enhance symptom improvement. STS significantly reduced the time in therapy compared to the at-risk population. STS enhances adherence to iCBT for depression, with an additional effect on severity only in the at-risk population.