Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies.
| Study | Country | Intervention | Target Population | Study Participants | Study Type | Design | Outcome Measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abeles et al. (2009) [30] | United Kingdom | Unguided computer-based CBT | Youth (12–16 years) with depressive disorders | aN = 23 | Effect evaluation | Pre-post design without control condition | Intervention effects |
| Berg et al. (2019) [39] | Sweden | Guided internet-based CBT vs. monitoring and non-specific counseling | Youth (15–19 years) with depressive disorders | aN = 70 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Mental health literacy |
| Bobier et al. (2013) [50] | New Zealand | Self-help CBT-based computer game | Youth (16–19 years) admitted for severe psychiatric disorder (among which depressive disorders) | aN = 20 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation; | Pre-post design without control condition | Acceptability; adherence and dropout |
| Bradford & Rickwood (2014) [60] | Australia | N/a b | Youth (15–19 years) with mood disorders | aN = 231 | Evaluation of preferred modes of help seeking | Cross-sectional study | Acceptability; intention to seek help |
| Bradley et al. (2012) [31] | Canada | Unguided internet-based CBT | Youth (15–18 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 13 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Pre-post design without control condition | Acceptability; intention to seek help; tailoring the intervention |
| Cheek et al. (2014) [51] | Australia | Self-help CBT-based computer game | Youth (12–19 years) with depressive symptoms c | Youth (13–18) recruited from the general population N = 16 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Pre-post design without control condition | Acceptability |
| Davidson et al. (2014) [32] | United States | Unguided internet-based behavioral activation | Youth at risk for post-disaster mental health problems among which mood disorders c | Study 1: Youth (12–17 years) recruited from the general population N = 24 Study 2: a N = 291 |
Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Cross-sectional | Acceptability; treatment engagement; time spent; tailoring the intervention |
| De Vos et al. (2017) [46] | Netherlands | Blended CBT | Youth (12–18 years) with depressive disorders | aN = 32 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Pre-post design without control condition | Acceptability; adherence and dropout; treatment engagement; time spent |
| Fleming et al. (2012) [52] | New Zealand | Self-help CBT-based computer game vs. wait list control | Youth (13–16 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 32 | Effect evaluation | Pragmatic RCT | Intervention effects; adherence and dropout; intention to seek help; risk monitoring |
| Forchuk et al. (2016) [58] | Canada | Internet-based monitoring tool | Youth (16–21 years) in mental health care with depressive disorders | Mental health care providers from acute and tertiary care facilities N = 9 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Qualitative study | Acceptability; treatment engagement; time spent; therapeutic relation; symptoms severity |
| Johnston et al. (2014) [40] | Australia | Therapist-guided internet-based CBT | Young adults (18–24 years) with mild or moderate depressive symptoms | aN = 18 | Effect evaluation | Pre-post design without control condition | Intervention effects; acceptability; adherence and dropout |
| Kobak et al. (2015) [47] | United States | Blended CBT vs. treatment as usual | Youth (12–17 years) with mood disorders | aN = 76 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; acceptability; adherence and dropout; therapeutic relation; mental health literacy |
| Kurki et al. (2018) [41] | Finland | Guided internet-based intervention | Youth (15–17 years) with depressive or anxiety disorders | Registered nurses from outpatient clinics for adolescent psychiatry N = 9 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Qualitative study | Symptoms severity; risk monitoring |
| Kurki et al. (2011) [61] | Finland | N/a b | Youth (13–18 years) in mental health care with depressive symptoms | Registered nurses from outpatient clinics for adolescent psychiatry N = 14 | Evaluation of preferred modes of help seeking | Qualitative study | Therapeutic relation; symptoms severity; facilities for computerized interventions |
| Logsdon et al. (2018) [33] | United States | Unguided internet-based intervention vs. no intervention control | Adolescent mothers (12–21 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 292 | Effect evaluation | Pre-post design with control condition | Intervention effects; acceptability; intention to seek help |
| Lokkerbol et al. (2018) [62] | Netherlands | N/a b | Young adults and adults (from age 18) with depressive disorders | aN = 165 | Evaluation of preferred modes of help seeking | Cross-sectional study | Acceptability |
| Lucassen Hatcher et al. (2015) [53] | New Zealand | Self-help CBT-based computer game | Youth (13–19 years) from sexual minorities with depressive symptoms | aN = 25 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Qualitative study | Acceptability |
| Lucassen et al. (2013) [54] | New Zealand | Self-help CBT-based computer game | Youth (16–21 years) from sexual minorities with depressive symptoms | aN = 10 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Qualitative study | Acceptability |
| Lucassen, Merry et al. (2015) [55] | New Zealand | Self-help CBT-based computer game | Youth (13–19 years) from sexual minorities with depressive symptoms | aN = 21 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Pre-post design without control condition | Intervention effects; acceptability; adherence and dropout; mental health literacy |
| Lucassen et al. (2018) [56] | New Zealand | Self-help CBT-based computer game | Youth (15–21 years) from sexual minorities with depressive symptoms | LGBT+ young people N = 21 Professionals in health and social care N = 6 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Qualitative study | Acceptability |
| Merry et al. (2012) [57] | New Zealand | Self-help CBT-based computer game | Youth (12–19 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 187 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; acceptability; adherence and dropout |
| O’Kearney et al. (2006) [42] | Australia | Teacher-guided internet-based CBT vs. standard personal developmental activities | Male youth (15–16 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 87 | Effect evaluation | Pre-post design with control condition | Intervention effects |
| Rickhi et al. (2015) [34] | Canada | Unguided spirituality informed internet-based intervention vs. wait list control | Youth (13–18 years) and young adults (19–24 years) with depressive disorders | aN = 31 and N = 31 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; adherence and dropout |
| Sethi (2013) [48] | Australia | Unguided internet-based CBT vs. face-to-face CBT vs. blended CBT vs. no intervention control | Young adults (18–25 years) with mild or moderate depressive or anxiety symptoms | aN = 89 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; adherence and dropout |
| Sethi et al. (2010) [49] | Australia | Unguided internet-based CBT vs. face-to-face CBT vs. blended CBT vs. no intervention control | Youth and young adults (15–25 years) with mild or moderate depressive or anxiety symptoms | aN = 38 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects |
| Smith et al. (2015) [35] | United Kingdom | Unguided computer-based CBT vs. wait list control | Youth (12–16 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 112 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects |
| Stallard et al. (2011) [43] | United Kingdom | Psychology assistant-guided computer-based CBT vs. wait list control | Youth (11–16 years) with depressive or anxiety disorders | aN = 20 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; acceptability; adherence and dropout; therapeutic relation |
| Stasiak et al. (2014) [36] | New Zealand | Unguided computer-based CBT game vs. computer-based psychoeducation | Youth (13–18 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 34 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; acceptability; adherence and dropout |
| Sundram et al. (2017) [59] | New Zealand | Internet-based monitoring tool | Youth (12–19 years) with mild or moderate depressive symptoms | Youth (12–19 years) N = 29 Clinicians (GPs and school’s health staff) N = 50 |
Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Qualitative study | Acceptability; treatment engagement; time spent; therapeutic relation; risk monitoring |
| Topooco et al. (2018) [44] | Sweden | Guided internet-based CBT vs. monitoring and non-specific counseling | Youth (15–19 years) with depressive disorders | aN = 70 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; adherence and dropout; treatment engagement; time spent; therapeutic relation |
| Van der Zanden et al. (2012) [45] | Netherlands | Guided internet-based CBT vs. wait list control | Youth (16–25 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 244 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; adherence and dropout |
| Vangberg et al. (2012) [37] | Norway | Unguided internet-based CBT | Youth (15–20 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 1239 | Feasibility, usability and/or acceptability evaluation | Cross-sectional study | Acceptability |
| Wright et al. (2017) [38] | United Kingdom | Unguided computer-based CBT vs. self-help websites | Youth (12–18 years) with depressive symptoms | aN = 91 | Effect evaluation | RCT | Intervention effects; adherence and dropout |
a Study participants were a sample from the target population; b Study was not aimed at a specific intervention, therefore, no specific target population is formulated; c Target population of the intervention was not used as study population; CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial.