Depression is a debilitating disorder associated with poor health outcomes, including increased comorbidity and early mortality. Despite the advent of new digital health interventions, few have been tested among patients with more severe forms of depression. As such, in an intent-to-treat study we examined whether 218 patients with at least moderately severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 15) experienced significant reductions in depressive symptoms after participation in a therapist-supported, evidence-based mobile health (mHealth) program, Meru Health Program (MHP). Patients with moderately severe and severe depressive symptoms at pre-program assessment experienced significant decreases in depressive symptoms at end-of treatment (mean [standard deviation] PHQ-9 reduction = 8.30 [5.03], Hedges' g = 1.64, 95% CI [1.44, 1.85]). Also, 34% of patients with at least moderately severe depressive symptoms at baseline and 29.9% of patients with severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 20) at baseline responded to the intervention at end-of-treatment, defined as experiencing ≥50% reduction in PHQ-9 score and a post-program PHQ-9 score lower than 10. Limitations include use lack of a control group and no clinical diagnostic information. Future randomized trials are warranted to test the MHP as a scalable solution for patients with more severe depressive symptoms.

抑郁症是一种使人衰弱的疾病，与不良健康结果相关，包括合并症增加和早期死亡率增加。尽管出现了新的数字健康干预措施，但很少有人在患有更严重抑郁症的患者中进行过测试。因此，在一项意向治疗研究中，我们检查了 218 名至少有中重度抑郁症状 (PHQ-9 ≥ 15) 的患者在参与治疗师支持的、基于证据的移动健康后抑郁症状是否显着减轻。 mHealth）计划、Meru 健康计划（MHP）。在计划前评估中患有中重度和重度抑郁症状的患者在治疗结束时抑郁症状显着减轻（平均[标准差] PHQ-9 减少 = 8.30 [5.03]，Hedges' g = 1.64，95% CI [ 1.44、1.85]）。此外，34% 的基线时至少有中度重度抑郁症状的患者和 29.9% 的基线时有重度抑郁症状 (PHQ-9 ≥ 20) 的患者在治疗结束时对干预有反应，定义为经历≥50% PHQ-9 分数降低，并且项目后 PHQ-9 分数低于 10。局限性包括使用缺乏对照组和没有临床诊断信息。未来的随机试验有必要测试 MHP 作为患有更严重抑郁症状的患者的可扩展解决方案。