A Megastudy of Single-Session Interventions for Depression

Summary

This project aims to learn if new kinds of digital single-session interventions (SSIs) for depression could be effective for American adults. Many existing SSIs are delivered in a simple text-based format. However, it might be that different kinds of SSIs (in terms of both content and style) also have potential for scalable impact. Specifically, this study will investigate the effectiveness of 11 innovative SSIs by comparing them to a passive control and to an existing SSI with established efficacy.

Conditions

• Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral Activation (Action Brings Change Project 10-Minute Version)

A behavioral activation SSI where users learn about negative thought spirals, give advice to an imagined peer, then create an "action plan" of helpful activities to do in the near future. This is a shorter version of the original 15-minute Action Brings Change SSI.

BEHAVIORAL

Mindful Acceptance

A clinical psychologist explains a few ways to use mindful acceptance to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings.

BEHAVIORAL

Moral Elevation

Users learn about moral elevation, then watch a touching video where a man does good deeds for people in his community (originally a Thai life insurance advertisement). Finally, they plan a positive action they can take to help others in their own life.

BEHAVIORAL

Mindful Attention Skills

A series of videos teach mindfulness skills: how to release thoughts and re-evaluate negative interpretations.

BEHAVIORAL

5 Habits to Beat Depression

A clinical psychologist and science communicator describes his top 5 one-minute habits to beat depression.

BEHAVIORAL

Interactive Cognitive Reappraisal

An interactive SSI where participants learn how to reframe negative thoughts

BEHAVIORAL

Expressive Writing (AI-supported)

Participants describe a negative thought they struggle with and an LLM helps them to consider a story in which a peer overcomes that thought.

BEHAVIORAL

Inner Child Healing Walk

An interactive journey to reconnect and heal one's inner child through breathing exercises, positive affirmations, and supportive animal companions.

BEHAVIORAL

Savoring Strategies

An SSI introducing savoring strategies to improve mood.

BEHAVIORAL

Personalized Intervention Recommender

Identifies the kinds of depression one struggles most with and offers a personalized recommendation for future depression support options

BEHAVIORAL

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills

Presents videos from dialectical behavioral therapy on various ways to control negative emotions.

BEHAVIORAL

All about Trout

An 8-10 minute educational program with information and interactive exercises about trout fish. Intended to capture one's attention and require some effort, while minimizing influence on depressive symptoms.

BEHAVIORAL

Reframing Negative Thoughts

An audio-only program in which users are guided to reflect on how they might challenge negative automatic thoughts and beliefs they struggle with.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• Northwestern University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-11

Primary Completion

2025-06-24

Completion

2025-06-24

Countries

• United States

Study Locations