Message-Based Psychotherapy and Digital Treatment Sequences for Depression

Summary

This partnership between Talkspace and the University of Washington (UW) ALACRITY Center will determine how effective unlimited text-based psychotherapy for depression is when compared to once-a-week psychotherapy. This study will also determine what the best treatment options are for people who are not responding well to either unlimited texting or weekly psychotherapy. The results of this study will be a new product version of message-based care that can tailor psychotherapy intensity based on the needs of future consumers with depression.

Conditions

• Study Adherence
• Depressive Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Video-Chat Psychotherapy (VCP)

Video-Chat Psychotherapy (VCP) consists of weekly psychotherapy appointments that last between 30-45 minutes. These sessions are conducted using Agora, a secure, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing service that is seamlessly integrated into the Talkspace platform application. Therapists will provide evidence-based treatments for depression and anxiety.

BEHAVIORAL

Message-Based Psychotherapy (MBP)

Message-Based Psychotherapy (MBP) allows patients to chat with an assigned licensed therapist as frequently as they wish. After consumers complete an intake and select a therapist, the consumer can begin chatting with their therapist right away, and as often as they wish. Therapists respond to text within 15 minutes to an hour during office hours, and within 14 hours outside of office hours. Thus, MBP is not fully synchronous. This enables therapists to deliver care to a larger number of patients than is possible under synchronous methods by disentangling the therapist's time from the patient's time to respond. It also has the potential to improve quality as it gives the therapist time to think through the most effective response and intervention. MBP will be based on CBT, PST or IPT intervention strategies.

BEHAVIORAL

Message-Based Psychotherapy with Monthly Video-Chat Psychotherapy

Message-Based Psychotherapy (MBP) with monthly Video-Chat Psychotherapy (VCP) allows patients unlimited texting with their therapist and once a month, 30-45 minute video chat with the same therapist. Therapist and participants schedule their video chat appointment to occur at once a month interval during therapist office hours. The content of these sessions, as well as the MBP portion of care, will be based on CBT, PST or IPT. In Phase 1, this is referred to as "Switch Arm" (for participants assigned to VCP at baseline) or "Minimal Augmentation" (for participants assigned to MBP at baseline). In Phase 2, this is referred to as the "Premium Plan".

BEHAVIORAL

Message-Based Psychotherapy with Weekly Video-Chat Psychotherapy

Message-Based Psychotherapy (MBP) with weekly Video-Chat Psychotherapy (VCP) allows patients access to both unlimited MBP, but will be able to schedule weekly, 30-45 minute video chat with the same therapist. Therapists will provide care based on CBT, PST or IPT. In Phase 1, this is referred to as the "Augmentation Arm". In Phase 2, this is referred to as the "Ultimate Plan."

BEHAVIORAL

High Monetary Incentive (HMI)

Participants in the traditional, high monetary incentive arm will receive a total of $125 for completing 12 weeks of assessments.

BEHAVIORAL

Low Monetary and Alternative Incentive (LMAI)

Participants in the Low Monetary and Alternative Incentive (LMAI) arm received a total of $75 for completing 12 weeks of assessments, messages of encouragement for completing daily assessments, and weekly texts showing participants their clinical improvement and assessment completion rate.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Washington

  collaborator OTHER

• Talkspace

  lead INDUSTRY

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-03-02

Primary Completion

2024-01-14

Completion

2024-01-14

Countries

• United States

Study Locations