MedTrace Logo

Using a Smartphone App to Reduce Cognitive Vulnerability and Mild Depressive Symptoms

NCT02783118 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 255

Last updated 2018-01-24

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Depression is one of the major challenges worldwide, with significant increasing personal, economic, and societal costs. Although empirically supported treatments have been developed, they are not always available for patients in routine clinical care. Even when patients are adequately treated, they do not always respond to treatment and/or face a significant risk for recurrence. Therefore, effective and wide accessible strategies to prevent the onset of the very first depressive symptoms are necessary. Mental health apps could prove a valuable alternative for that. Although preliminary research has indicated that apps could be useful in treating depression, no study has attempted to test their utility in preventing depression symptoms. The current study aims to contrast the efficacy of a smartphone app in preventing depression compared against a waiting list condition. The app includes self-help materials and exercises based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression, presented in a tailored manner and incorporating gamification elements aimed at boosting the motivation to use the app.

This study protocol is the first that capitalizes on the ubiquity of smartphones to large-scale dissemination of CBT-based strategies aimed at preventing depression in nonclinical populations. The objective of this study is to test an app designed to decrease general cognitive vulnerability and promote engagement in protective, adaptive activities, while counteracting the tendency of premature dropout (through gamification and customization).

Conditions

  • Mild Depression

Interventions

OTHER

Self administered online CBT

The app being tested has two main components: courses and exercises. Courses represent the psycho-educational and therapeutic background of the program, comprising the following topics: information on depression, psychological vulnerability, what is CBT, healthy and unhealthy negative emotions, rational and irrational thoughts, how behaviors contribute to depression, sleep hygiene, social support, and relaxation techniques. Exercises use the information presented in the courses and follow the structure of a regular therapy session and/or therapeutic homework. The following exercises are included in the app: 1. The Emotional Pulse exercise 2. The Sticky Notes exercise 3. The Find Irrational Thoughts 4. The Change Irrational Thoughts

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Babes-Bolyai University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Cezar Giosan, PhD · Babes-Bolyai University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-05-31
Primary Completion
2017-12-31
Completion
2017-12-31

Countries

  • Romania

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02783118 on ClinicalTrials.gov