Evaluation Study of Medical-Social Collaboration Model for Middle-aged and Older Adults With Depressive Symptoms

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a medical-social collaboration model works to reduce depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults with subsyndromal depressive symptoms who are waiting for their first psychiatric appointment. Secondary outcomes of the study include reduced anxiety symptoms, reduced loneliness, reduced rumination, reduced self-criticism, improved self-reassurance, improved resilience, improved self-efficacy, improved health-related quality of life, as well as improved quality-adjusted life years, and reduced healthcare service utilisation.

Researchers will compare a medical-social collaboration model to a self-management booklet.

Participants will:

* Receive CBT-based stepped-care interventions through the medical-social collaboration model or a self-management booklet.
* Complete a survey about their mental health and service use every three months until their first psychiatric appointment.

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive behavioural therapy-based stepped-care intervention

After initial clinical assessment, participants will be offered interventions based on their depressive symptom severity (Patient Health Questionnaire-9-item \[PHQ-9\]). Mild symptoms (PHQ-9=5-9): 6 weekly low intensity CBT-based group intervention sessions led by trained clinical social workers, with 2 booster sessions as necessary. Moderate symptoms (PHQ-9=10-14): 6 weekly high intensity CBT-based group intervention sessions led by trained clinical social workers, with 2 booster sessions as necessary. Moderately severe symptoms (PHQ-9≥15): high intensity individual or group CBT-based intervention. Trained peer supporters will be matched to participants to walk them through the process with regular follow-up.

OTHER

Self-management booklet

The booklet incorporates components of behavioural activation, which encourages participants to engage in meaningful activities in daily life to change their mood. Trained research assistants will regularly check in with the participants to monitor their depressive symptoms.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Hospital Authority Hong Kong East Cluster

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Hospital Authority Kolwoon Central Cluster

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• The University of Hong Kong

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Terry YS Lum, PhD · The University of Hong Kong

• Gloria HY Wong, PhD · University of Reading

• Wai Chi Chan, MBChB · The University of Hong Kong

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-31

Primary Completion

2027-06-30

Completion

2027-06-30

Countries

• Hong Kong

Study Locations