Graduation Year

2017

Degree Type

Open Access Capstone

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Department Name when Degree Awarded

Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing

First Advisor

Donna J. Corley

Department Affiliation

Nursing

Second Advisor

Rachael Hovermale

Department Affiliation

Nursing

Abstract

College students have high rates of depression, but do not always receive appropriate mental health care. Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) has the potential to provide students rapid access to an evidence-based treatment for depression. This project examined the acceptability and effectiveness of the ICBT program MoodGYM for college students with significant symptoms of depression. Nineteen college students with scores of 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression scale were enrolled in the project. Attrition, defined as failing to complete any MoodGYM modules, was high at 31.6% (n=6). Only 26.3% of participants (n=5) completed all five modules. The mean baseline PHQ-9 score was 15.58 points out of a possible 27 points. The mean post-intervention score was 11.0. The mean change in PHQ-9 score of 4.467 points was statistically significant (p<.001) and the effect size was large (Eta2 = 0.54). An ICBT program such as MoodGYM appears to be an effective treatment for depression and is acceptable to at least some students with symptoms of depression.

IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

17.1312

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