Web-based Self-help Intervention for Adolescents With Acute or Remitted Major Depressive Disorder

Summary

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a web-based self-help intervention in adolescents with acute or remitted major depressive disorder. We will examine whether this intervention improves positive affect, reduces stress and alleviates negative affect and depressive symptoms in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. We will also investigate the rates of adherence among the adolescents who use this web-based intervention and the acceptability of the intervention with adolescents.

Conditions

• Depression
• Depressive Disorder
• Depressive Symptoms
• Depressive Disorder, Major

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Two-week web-based self-help intervention based on principles of positive psychology

The web-based self-help intervention consists of 14 exercises based on the following positive psychology domains: personal strengths, pleasure, gratitude, engagement (flow, mindfulness) and positive relationships. The (partly interactive) exercises are created to be implemented by the participants themselves without support of a therapist. Before starting the intervention, the participants are told that they will receive a daily email with an instruction for a short exercise over the period of two weeks. The participants are instructed to complete the exercises every day and are told that they will be asked to evaluate these exercises at the next appointment (post-test, week 2).

BEHAVIORAL

Two-week web-based text messages containing fun facts

The web-based sham comparator consists of 14 text messages containing random interesting facts ("fun facts"). Before starting the sham comparator, the participants are told that they will receive a daily email with a text message to read every over the period of two weeks. The participants are instructed to read these text messages every day and are told that they will be asked to evaluate these exercises at the next appointment (post-test, week 2).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Prof. Otto Beisheim Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gerd Schulte-Körne, Professor · Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Munich

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-01-04

Primary Completion

2022-05-02

Completion

2022-05-02

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations