Internet based education for depression: An initial randomized controlled study

A randomized controlled study on the effect of Internet based education for treating depression using cognitive behavioural techniques.

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12609000009213

Enrollment

Registered

2009-01-07

Start date

2008-10-13

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

We will examine the efficacy of an Internet based education program for improving the mental health of people with depression. Participants will be recruited via a website developed for this Program (www.climateclinic.tv), and a structured diagnostic interview via telephone. Consenting participants will be randomly allocated to an active Education Group, or Wait-List Control Group. Participants will complete six lessons of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) based education delivered via the Internet and weekly emails from a clinician, weekly homework, and weekly contact with other participants via an online discussion board. Participants will be assessed at application, prestudy, one week poststudy, and 6 months poststudy. Once the Education Group have completed the lessons the Control Group will be given access to the lessons.

Interventions

A randomized trial of 6 lessons of Internet based education for people who meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for major depressive disorder. One lesson will be completed every 7 to 10 days (each lesson will involve homework, an online discussion forum assignment, email contact with clinicians, and an online reading assignment, requiring up to 4 hours/week) vs wait-list control. The lessons will be completed by participants online in their own homes. Study questionnaires will be administered at application, beginning of the first lesson, 1-week poststudy, and 6 months follow-up. The educational materials are based on cognitive behavioural techniques. Once Education Group participants have completed the 6 lessons the Wait-List group participants will begin the lessons.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Educational / counselling / training

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for major depressive disorder - Internet access + printer access. - Australian citizen- Males and females-

Exclusion criteria

Current substance abuse/dependence- Psychotic disorder-PHQ 9 score of lower than 5 or higher than 23- moderate or high suicide risk

Outcome results