Efficacy and Acceptability of Remote Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder in Japanese Clinical Settings: A Case Series

Waka Nogami; Atsuo Nakagawa; Noriko Kato; Yohei Sasaki; Taishiro Kishimoto; Masaru Horikoshi; Masaru Mimura

doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2022.04.002

Efficacy and Acceptability of Remote Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder in Japanese Clinical Settings: A Case Series

Cogn Behav Pract. 2022 May 5. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2022.04.002. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Waka Nogami¹, Atsuo Nakagawa^{1

2}, Noriko Kato^{1

3}, Yohei Sasaki¹, Taishiro Kishimoto^{1

4}, Masaru Horikoshi³, Masaru Mimura¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo.
² Department of Neuropsychiatry, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki.
³ National Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Research, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo.
⁴ Hills Joint Research Laboratory for Future Preventive Medicine and Wellness, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo.

Abstract

Remote cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT) via videoconference has been garnering attention as a means of improving access to CBT for depression, in particular during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. However, there is a lack of evidence supporting its implementation in Japanese clinical settings. This case series aimed to establish preliminary evidence of whether remote CBT can be an effective therapy for major depression in Japanese clinical settings. Five patients who met the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder were enrolled and underwent remote CBT via videoconference and face-to-face assessment interviews. The results showed that remote CBT via videoconference improved depressive symptoms, enabling a relatively high level of patient satisfaction and working alliance. Moreover, detailed feedback from our patients showed that continuous monitoring was preferable for increasing treatment engagement. Further research is warranted to test the efficacy and acceptability of remote CBT via videoconference for treating major depression.

Keywords: BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; CBT, Cognitive behavioral therapy; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; CSQ-8, Client Satisfaction Questionnaire; DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; M.I.N.I., Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; SCID-I/P for DSM-IV-TR, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders-Patient Edition; SRS, Session Rating Scale; cognitive behavioral therapy; depression; teletherapy; videoconference.