An Internet-Based Intervention for the Relatives of People with Mental Illnesses

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 15-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginie Salamin ◽  
Philippe Ray ◽  
Isabelle Gothuey ◽  
Sabine Corzani ◽  
Chantal Martin-Soelch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Online Intervention ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Before And After

Abstract. Relatives of individuals with mental illness are exposed to an elevated level of burden. Consequently, it is important to provide them with coping strategies. We explored the benefits of an online skills-training intervention. This open, uncontrolled interventional pilot study included 104 relatives of individuals with a mental illness. They participated either in a face-to-face group ( n = 60) or online intervention ( n = 44); participants were free to choose the type of intervention. Depressive symptoms and emotion regulation were assessed before and after the interventions. The analysis was based on an intention-to-treat model. About one-third of both samples did not complete the posttest assessments. The results of a multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of the interaction between time and intervention type, F(2,101) = 11.77, p < .01. Reductions in depressive symptoms, F(1,102) = 9.41, p < .01, ε2p= .08, and emotion-regulation difficulty, F(1,102) = 8.01, p < .01, ε2p= .07, following the online intervention were greater relative to the group intervention. Despite the limitations of this study because of group differences, the results demonstrated the benefits of an online intervention for the relatives. These encouraging initial results require further confirmation using a randomized controlled trial.

scholarly journals Effect of a Gender-Tailored eHealth Weight Loss Program on the Depressive Symptoms of Overweight and Obese Men: Pre-Post Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myles D Young ◽  
Philip J Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Weight Loss Program ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Intervention Effect ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Before And After

BACKGROUND Obesity and depression are of two of the largest contributors to the global burden of disease in men. Although lifestyle behavior change programs can improve participants’ weight and depressive symptoms, the evidence is limited by a lack of male participants and a reliance on face-to-face treatment approaches, which are not accessible or appealing for many men. OBJECTIVE This study examined the effect of a gender-tailored electronic health (eHealth) program on the depressive symptoms of a community sample of overweight and obese men with or without depression. A secondary aim was to determine whether the eHealth, self-directed format of the program was a feasible and acceptable treatment approach for the subgroup of men with depression at baseline. METHODS In total, 209 overweight/obese men from the Hunter Region of Australia were assessed before and after completing a self-administered eHealth weight loss program over 3 months. To increase engagement, most program elements were socio-culturally targeted to appeal specifically to men and included printed materials, a DVD, motivational text messages, online- or app-based self-monitoring, and other weight loss tools (eg, pedometer). Depressive symptoms were measured with the validated 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8). Program feasibility and acceptability were assessed with a process questionnaire plus recruitment and retention rates. Changes in depressive symptoms and weight were examined using intention-to-treat linear mixed models, adjusted for the centered baseline score and other covariates. Effect sizes were estimated with Cohen’s d. RESULTS At baseline, the mean weight and age of the sample was 105.7 kg (standard deviation [SD] 14.0) and 46.6 years (SD 11.3), respectively. Overall, 36 men (36/209, 17.2%) were experiencing depression (PHQ-8 score ≥10). Retention rates were comparable between men with and without depression (32/36, 88.9% vs 145/173, 83.8%; P=.44). At posttest, depressive symptoms had reduced by 1.8 units (95% CI 1.3 to 2.3; P<.001; d=0.5) for the whole sample. These improvements were particularly notable in the subgroup of men with depression (-5.5 units; P<.001; d=1.0) and 72.2% (26/36) of this subgroup no longer met the criterion for depression at posttest. A corresponding, albeit smaller, intervention effect on depressive symptoms was also observed in men without depression (-1.0 units; P<.001; d=0.4). The overall intervention effect on weight was -4.7 kg (d=1.3), which did not vary significantly by depression status. Program acceptability, feasibility, and online engagement metrics were also comparable between men with and without depression. CONCLUSIONS A gender-tailored eHealth lifestyle program generated short-term improvements in the mental health of overweight and obese men, particularly for men with depression at baseline. Despite receiving no personalized support, men with depression reported high levels of satisfaction and engagement with the program. As such, a longer-term controlled trial testing an adapted version of the program for this subgroup is warranted. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000749808; https://www.anzctr.org.au/ Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=362575 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wJvbRsNW)

scholarly journals Mobile Health (mHealth) Versus Clinic-Based Group Intervention for People With Serious Mental Illness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 978-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dror Ben-Zeev ◽  
Rachel M. Brian ◽  
Geneva Jonathan ◽  
Lisa Razzano ◽  
Nicole Pashka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Randomized Controlled

scholarly journals Skills-based intervention to enhance collaborative decision-making: systematic adaptation and open trial protocol for veterans with psychosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily B. H. Treichler ◽  
Borsika A. Rabin ◽  
William D. Spaulding ◽  
Michael L. Thomas ◽  
Michelle P. Salyers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Open Trial ◽  
Collaborative Decision Making ◽  
Collaborative Decision

Abstract Background Collaborative decision-making is an innovative decision-making approach that assigns equal power and responsibility to patients and providers. Most veterans with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia want a greater role in treatment decisions, but there are no interventions targeted for this population. A skills-based intervention is promising because it is well-aligned with the recovery model, uses similar mechanisms as other evidence-based interventions in this population, and generalizes across decisional contexts while empowering veterans to decide when to initiate collaborative decision-making. Collaborative Decision Skills Training (CDST) was developed in a civilian serious mental illness sample and may fill this gap but needs to undergo a systematic adaptation process to ensure fit for veterans. Methods In aim 1, the IM Adapt systematic process will be used to adapt CDST for veterans with serious mental illness. Veterans and Veteran’s Affairs (VA) staff will join an Adaptation Resource Team and complete qualitative interviews to identify how elements of CDST or service delivery may need to be adapted to optimize its effectiveness or viability for veterans and the VA context. During aim 2, an open trial will be conducted with veterans in a VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) to assess additional adaptations, feasibility, and initial evidence of effectiveness. Discussion This study will be the first to evaluate a collaborative decision-making intervention among veterans with serious mental illness. It will also contribute to the field’s understanding of perceptions of collaborative decision-making among veterans with serious mental illness and VA clinicians, and result in a service delivery manual that may be used to understand adaptation needs generally in VA PRRCs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04324944

Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of depression in persons with physical disability: a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 938-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Zemestani ◽  
Sharmin Mozaffari
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Experimental Group

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on depressive symptoms in physically disabled persons. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: State welfare organization in Kamyaran, Kurdistan, Iran. Participants: Fifty-two physically disabled participants with a primary diagnosis of depression were randomly assigned to either ACT or control groups. Interventions: Participants in the ACT group ( n = 23) received eight weekly 90-minute group sessions based on standard ACT protocol for depression. Participants in the control group ( n = 29) received psychoeducation regarding depression. Main measures: Measures were recorded at baseline, eight weeks (end of treatment), and 16 weeks (follow-up). The outcomes were the change in the depressive symptoms, measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), psychological flexibility, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being measured by Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB), respectively. Results: After eight weeks, significant changes in depressive symptoms was observed in the experimental group (ACT –10.39 ± 0.79 vs control 0.66 ± 0.68, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the experimental group also showed significant improvement in psychological flexibility (ACT 8.13 ± 0.52 vs control –0.03 ± 0.51, P < 0.001), adaptive emotion regulation strategies (ACT 10.74 ± 0.62 vs control 0.03 ± 1.03, P < 0.001), and psychological well-being (ACT 66.95 ± 4.01 vs control –1.90 ± 1.04, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Compared with control group, ACT significantly reduced the participants’ depression, and changed psychological flexibility, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being in persons with physical disability.

scholarly journals Internet-based treatment for depression in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1112-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa E Boeschoten ◽  
Joost Dekker ◽  
Bernard MJ Uitdehaag ◽  
Aartjan TF Beekman ◽  
Adriaan W Hoogendoorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Wait List ◽  
Wait List Control ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Sum Score

Background: Depression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is common but may stay untreated. Physical limitations impede face-to-face treatment. Internet-based treatment is therefore a promising tool for treating depression in MS. Objectives: To investigate effectiveness of a guided Internet-based problem-solving treatment (IPST) for depressed MS patients. Methods: MS patients with moderate or severe depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to IPST or a wait list control. Primary outcome was the change in depressive symptoms defined by a change in sum score on the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II). Assessments took place at baseline (T0), within a week after the intervention (T1), and at 4 months follow-up (T2). Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. Results: A total of 171 patients were randomized to IPST ( n = 85) or a wait list control ( n = 86). T1 was completed by 152 (89%) and T2 by 131 patients (77%). The IPST group and wait list control showed large significant improvements in depressive symptoms, but no differences were found between groups at T1 ( d = 0.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (−4.03, 1.08); p = 0.259) and T2 ( d = 0.01; 95% CI = (−2.80, 2.98); p = 0.953). Conclusion: We found no indication that IPST for MS patients with moderate or severe depression is effective in reducing depressive symptoms compared to a waiting list. Large improvements in the wait list control were unexpected and are discussed.

scholarly journals Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the WHO Caregiver Skills Training in Public Health Services in Italy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Salomone ◽  
Michele Settanni ◽  
Helen McConachie ◽  
Katharine Suma ◽  
Federica Ferrara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Autism Severity ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Joint Engagement ◽  
Intention To Treat

AbstractParents of children with ASD (N = 86; mean age 44.8 months; 67 boys) were randomized to either WHO Caregiver Skills Training (CST) delivered in public health settings in Italy or enhanced treatment-as-usual. Primary blinded outcomes were 3-months post-intervention change scores of autism severity and engagement during caregiver-child interaction. CST was highly acceptable to caregivers and feasibly delivered by trained local clinicians. Intention-to-treat analysis showed a large and significant effect on parent skills supporting joint engagement and a smaller significant effect on flow of interaction. Expected changes in child autism severity and joint engagement did not meet statistical significance. Analysis of secondary outcomes showed a significant effect on parenting stress, self-efficacy, and child gestures. Strategies to improve the effectiveness of CST are discussed.

“I Would Like Someone to Hear Me”: Understanding Stakeholder Perceptions in Pursuit of Improving Collaborative Decision-Making among People with Serious Mental Illness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Treichler
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Training Manual ◽  
Collaborative Decision Making ◽  
Self Advocacy ◽  
Collaborative Decision

Objective: Collaborative decision-making is valued by people with serious mental illnesses and associated with important outcomes like treatment engagement and satisfaction, but levels of collaboration remain low. We developed a skills training manual to increase consumer ability to initiate and engage in collaborative decision-making in the hopes of facilitating higher levels of collaboration. Our study included two aims: 1) to understand stakeholder perception of collaborative decision-making, and 2) to gain feedback from stakeholders regarding the skills training manual to inform manual revisions.Methods: Eleven consumers with serious mental illness and eleven providers of mental health treatment were recruited. Each participant received a copy of the skills training manual and engaged in one of two mixed participatory dialogues with eleven participants each.Results: Stakeholders reported having a positive perception of collaborative decision-making, but also reported concern about a number of barriers that may inhibit collaborative interactions. Participants believed that increases in collaboration would have to come from consumer self-advocacy despite provider resistance. Stakeholders responded positively overall to the skills training manual, but made a number of suggestions to improve it, leading to 10 revisions.Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Stakeholders’ response emphasizes the desirability and importance of improving CDM, and suggests that a consumer-led intervention is a promising method to do so. Participatory dialogues were not only an effective method to gather data for this study, but also provided a structured and supportive space for consumers to speak to and with providers, including responding directly to stigma among providers.

OS10.4.A The effects of SmartCare on neuro-oncology family caregivers’ distress: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii13-ii13
Author(s):  
F W Boele ◽  
J M Weimer ◽  
J Proudfoot ◽  
A L Marsland ◽  
T S Armstrong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Physical Consequences

Abstract BACKGROUND Patients with primary malignant brain tumors have high symptom burden and commonly rely on family caregivers for practical and emotional support. This can lead to negative mental and physical consequences for caregivers. We investigated effectiveness of an 8-week nurse-led online needs-based support program (SmartCare©) with and without online self-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression compared to enhanced care as usual (ECAU) on depressive symptoms, caregiving-specific distress, anxiety, mastery, and burden. MATERIAL AND METHODS Family caregivers with depressive symptoms were randomized to three groups: SmartCare© plus/minus self-guided CBT, or ECAU. Primary outcomes (depressive symptoms (CES-D); caregiving-specific distress (Caregiver Needs Screen)) and secondary outcomes (anxiety (POMS-A), caregiver mastery (Caregiver Mastery Scale), and caregiver burden (Caregiver Reactions Assessment)) were assessed online. Intention to treat analyses of covariance corrected for baseline scores were performed for outcomes at four months. RESULTS In total, 120 family caregivers participated. Accrual and CBT engagement were lower than expected, therefore intervention groups were combined (n=80) and compared to ECAU (n=40). For depressive symptoms, no statistically significant group differences were found. Caregiving-specific distress decreased in the intervention group compared with ECAU (p=0.01, partial ɳ 2=0.08). Among secondary outcomes, there was a trend towards improvement in mastery for the intervention group compared with ECAU (p=0.08, partial ɳ 2=0.04). CONCLUSION SmartCare©, with or without self-guided CBT, reduced caregiving-specific distress with a trend towards improving mastery. SmartCare© has the potential to improve the lives of families coping with a brain tumor diagnosis.

Efficacy of an online intervention for treatment of depressive disorders: a three-arm randomized controlled trial comparing guided and unguided self-help with waitlist control (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krämer Rico
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Online Intervention ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Control Group

BACKGROUND Digital health applications are efficacious treatment options for mild-to-moderate depressive disorders. However, the extent to which psychological guidance increases the efficacy of these applications is controversial. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the efficacy of the online intervention “Selfapy” for unipolar depression. We also investigated differences between a psychotherapist-guided vs. unguided version compared with those from a control group. METHODS A cohort of 401 participants with mild-to-severe depressive disorders were assigned randomly to either participate in a guided version of Selfapy (involving weekly telephone calls of 25-min duration), an unguided version of Selfapy, or to the waiting list (control group). Selfapy is a cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention for depressive disorders of duration 12 weeks. Symptom assessment was undertaken at T1 (before study entrance), T2 (after 6 weeks), T3 (post-treatment, after 12 weeks), and T4 (follow-up, after 6 months). The main outcome was reduction in depressive symptoms in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) from T1 to T3. Secondary-outcome parameters were the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology – Self Report (QIDS-SR 16) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). RESULTS A total of 297 out of 401 participants (74.06%) completed the post-measurement at T3. In the primary analysis, both intervention groups showed a significantly higher reduction in depressive symptoms (BDI-II) from T1 to T3 compared with that in the control group, with high within-effect sizes (guided: d = 1.46; unguided d = 1.36). No significant differences were found for guided vs. unguided treatment groups. The response rate (BDI-II) for intention-to-treat data in the guided version was 46.4%, 40.0% for the unguided version, and 2.0% in the control group. After 6 months (T4), treatment effects could been maintained for both intervention groups (BDI-II) without differences between either intervention group. CONCLUSIONS Conclusions: Selfapy can help to reduce depressive symptoms in guided or unguided version. Follow-up data suggest that these effects could be maintained. The guided version was not superior to the unguided version. CLINICALTRIAL Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trial DRKS00017191 Date of registration: 14 May 2019 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05218-4

scholarly journals School-Related Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Trial of Adolescent Depression Prevention Programs

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa E. McCarthy ◽  
Jami F. Young ◽  
Jessica S. Benas ◽  
Robert J. Gallop
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Meaningful Improvement ◽  
Depression Prevention ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Intervention Condition

Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of school-based depression prevention programs in reducing depressive symptoms and improving functioning. This study examined whether these programs have positive effects on school-related outcomes. Students at 10 middle and high schools in New Jersey were randomized to weekly sessions of Interpersonal Psychotherapy–Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) or group counseling (GC). Analyses examined whether there were intervention effects on participants’ grades, attendance rates, and disciplinary outcomes over approximately 1 year postintervention. Although there were no significant main effects of intervention condition, moderation analyses indicated more favorable effects of IPT-AST among certain higher-risk subgroups (e.g., those from low-income families). Participants who experienced meaningful improvement in their depressive symptoms had significantly more positive outcomes on overall grades than those who did not experience meaningful improvement, regardless of intervention condition. Further research is needed to clarify the effects of depression prevention programs on these school-related outcomes.

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