Internet-Based Depression Prevention over the Life Course: A Call for Behavioral Vaccines

• Published in: The Psychiatric clinics of North America Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 167 - 183
• Main Authors: Van Voorhees, Benjamin W., MD, MPH, Mahoney, Nicholas, Mazo, Rina, Barrera, Alinne Z., PhD, Siemer, Christopher P., BS, Gladstone, Tracy R.G., PhD, Muñoz, Ricardo F., PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-03-2011
• Subjects: Aging - psychology; Child; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Depression - prevention & control; Humans; Internet; Intervention studies; Mental disorders; Models, Psychological; Motivation; Prevention and control; Primary Prevention - methods; Program Development - methods; Psychiatric/Mental Health; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods; Prevention and control; Internet; Mental disorders; Child; Intervention studies
• ISSN: 0193-953X; 1558-3147
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2010.11.002

Technology-based approaches for the prevention of depression offer considerable benefits including easy access, patient autonomy, and “nonconsumable” services that are autonomous from traditional (face-to-face) interventions. The authors have previously worked to develop Internet interventions based on the frameworks for conventional, face-to-face effective community-based interventions, and propose to integrate these models into a “behavioral vaccine model” aptly applicable to technology-based delivery. This article reviews the literature on Internet-based depression prevention programs using this behavioral vaccine development model, reviewing literature relevant to each component of the model in turn.