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Online MBCT vs HEP for Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: RCT

NCT06189118 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 84

Last updated 2025-05-25

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

In Canada, depression affects more than 300,000 adults over the age of 60, which costs the healthcare system an estimated $5 billion each year. Late-life depression (LLD) is associated with more deaths, more physical and mental health problems. LLD is hard to treat, as many people will not respond to treatment and many will stop taking antidepressant medication due to negative side-effects. Unfortunately, common non-medication treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy are often inaccessible because of long (6-12 months) wait times and high costs. In a previous study, we found that an 8-week group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program improved depressive symptoms more than regular LLD treatment (i.e. antidepressants and/or support counseling). Now, a larger scale study is required to compare MBCT to an active control group. Furthermore, research and clinical experience during and post-Covid pandemic has shown that older adults are nowadays far less likely to participate in in-person intervention studies but appreciate and tolerate Zoom delivery of behavioral interventions. This study will compare the effects of MBCT versus an active control group, Health Enhancement Program (HEP), both delivered by Zoom, to see if it improves symptoms of depression in older adults. The study team plans to recruit approximately 100-120 participants in across Canada, who will be randomly assigned to 8-weeks of either MBCT or HEP, delivered by Zoom. The investigators will observe if these treatments improve depression as well as cognition by conducting in-person cognitive assessments. Currently there is a lack of affordable and accessible non-medication treatments for LLD that can be scaled to reach many people. If successful, Mindfulness may be a potential solution, as it is easily given in groups and is well-tolerated by older adults with LLD.

Conditions

  • Older Age; Depression

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Online Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy or Health Education Program

12 hours of online group training of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy OR 12 hours of online group training of Health Education Program will be provided via teleconferencing. Additional both groups will perform daily home practice.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Douglas Mental Health University Institute

    collaborator OTHER

  • Lady Davis Institute

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-09-01
Primary Completion
2024-12-31
Completion
2025-02-02

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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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 NCT06189118 on ClinicalTrials.gov