# A Randomized Controlled Trial of Deprexis; Evaluation of A Computerized Intervention to Decrease Depression and Restore Functioning in Veterans

> **NIH VA IK2** · OLIN TEAGUE VETERANS CENTER · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among post-deployment Veterans, and the
associated morbidity and mortality is excessively high. Although patient preference studies indicate
that those with depressive symptoms prefer psychotherapy over medication treatment, numerous
person-specific, interpersonal and system-level barriers can prevent Veterans with depressive
symptoms from accessing adequate psychotherapy. Internet-delivered interventions, which are
lower threshold, shows promise for the treatment of depressive symptoms in the general
population. Although internet-delivered interventions have the potential to optimize treatment
access and utilization for those with a recent onset of depressive symptoms, there is limited
evidence supporting their effectiveness in Veterans.
 Deprexis is a computerized intervention, which employs interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral
and third wave behavioral treatment techniques to target depressive symptoms and related
functional impairments. Dr. Beevers (co-mentor) previously demonstrated that Deprexis improved
well-being, and decreased depressive symptoms and disability in a general population sample. Dr.
Pearson then used machine-learning statistical methods to identify predictors of Deprexis
treatment response, with results indicating that Deprexis was most beneficial for those with mild to
moderate symptoms of depression. In the proposed study qualitative interviews will be conducted
to gain insight into Veterans’ perceptions, needs, and preferences vis-a-vis Deprexis, with results
informing a randomized controlled trial. Here an 8-week course of Deprexis will be compared to a
treatment-as-usual control condition to establish if results obtained in the general population
sample extend to Veterans with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. The results of this work
could have a profound impact on Veterans’ functional recovery by broadening the reach and
timeliness of psychological interventions for depressive symptoms. Our long-term vision is that
Deprexis can be integrated in a stepped-care approach; providing rapid intervention for individuals
with mild to moderate depressive symptoms, while reserving resource-intensive treatments such
as face-to-face psychotherapy for individuals with severe symptomatology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10864655
- **Project number:** 1IK2RX004565-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** OLIN TEAGUE VETERANS CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Rahel Pearson
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10864655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10864655, A Randomized Controlled Trial of Deprexis; Evaluation of A Computerized Intervention to Decrease Depression and Restore Functioning in Veterans (1IK2RX004565-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10864655. Licensed CC0.

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