Primary Care Patients With Depression for Internet-Based Social Support

Summary

The purpose of this study is to develop and pilot test two interventions that lead to at least 30% of individuals with depression presenting to primary care engaging with an Internet-based depression support group. The investigators will identify primary care patients with depression who state they have access to the Internet and are willing to consider treatment for depression. In the primary care office they will be given one of three interventions introducing them to the Internet depression support group site. The major outcome will be accessing the depression Internet support group at least once in the following four weeks.

The results of this study will provide important information on whether it is possible to recruit a substantial proportion of primary care patients to engage in a potentially useful and inexpensive addition to standard depression care. If this is not possible, the likelihood of successfully completing a RCT of the effectiveness of depression Internet support groups utilizing primary care patients would be low. Researchers trying to assess the effectiveness of depression Internet support groups would have to go to alternative designs such as recruiting patients with depression as they try to join the depression Internet support groups and randomizing some to a delay in joining the group.

Conditions

• Depressive Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Simple Card

Participants will receive a simple 3"x5" card with the name of the website and the following description. "www.psychobabble.com (or new name). A website to help individuals with depression recover."

BEHAVIORAL

Patient Centered Brochure

Participants will receive an 8"x11" handout that provides a more complete description of the depression website. The handout will be based on a patient perspective with samples of Internet postings from users. This card will emphasize peer-to-peer support and not mention health care organizations or health care provider endorsements. The information will address potential barriers to use: user will not be identified, posting will not take that much time, information from peers can be checked for accuracy with other peers and providers, and helping patient learn how to tell their usual health care providers about their activities on the Internet site. Participants will be asked to provide their email so a reminder about the Internet depression site can be emailed to them at 1 week and 2 weeks. They will still be part of the study even if they will not provide their email.

BEHAVIORAL

Physician's endorsement

Participants will include the same card in experimental group 2 with the addition of a personal endorsement by the patient's health care provider in the form of a standardized letter signed by the physician. Participants will be asked to provide their email so a reminder about the Internet depression site can be emailed to them at 1 week and 2 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johns Hopkins University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Chicago

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2008-10-31

Primary Completion

2009-09-30

Completion

2011-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations