None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
MindExpressTM - the skills to build resilience - is an online risk-factor based tailored depression prevention and mentoring App targeting young people aged 16 to 25 years at elevated risk for mood disorders. The App delivery of MindExpressTM with tailoring to personal circumstances is an innovative approach to depression prevention, resilience-building and reduction of chronicity of mood disorders in youth. MindExpressTM was developed at the University of New South Wales in 2011-2013, funded by a beyondblue National Priority Driven Research Program grant. Custom web functions and design relevant to youth culture were developed through focus group consultations with the target demographic. A feasibility pilot study was completed in 2013 involving 30 participants aged 18 to 25 years. The feasibility study found MindExpressTM to be acceptable, useful and helpful to young people and indicated that it may be possible to reduce depression symptomatology by modifying risk factors through best practice cognitive and behavioural change. The results indicated a positive effect on coping skills with a substantial effect size and improvement in depression scores. The tailored design enables individuals to identify personal risk and protective factors and provides support and feedback to implement cognitive and behavioural changes in real life. MindExpressTM is intended as an adjunct to usual care and enables users to be linked dynamically to their support networks such as their support worker, mentor, carer or GP. If proven scientifically valid by the RCT, MindExpressTM can be translated as a primary prevention App for adolescents and young adults at risk for mood disorders.
Interventions
MindExpress is an interactive smartphone application designed to reduce risk for depression in young people aged 16 to 25 years.
Step 1: Registration and log in. All participants who meet the eligibility criteria will register and choose an encrypted log in ID and password.
Step 2: Demographic measure. All participants and decliners will complete the sociodemographic measure (8 items).
Step 3 Baseline measures and Personal Profile - One session of 30 minutes.
3a) All eligible participants w
MindExpress is an interactive smartphone application designed to reduce risk for depression in young people aged 16 to 25 years. Step 1: Registration and log in. All participants who meet the eligibility criteria will register and choose an encrypted log in ID and password. Step 2: Demographic measure. All participants and decliners will complete the sociodemographic measure (8 items). Step 3 Baseline measures and Personal Profile - One session of 30 minutes. 3a) All eligible participants will enter the App and complete the Adolescent Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (ADKQ, 15 items)10 and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-12, 12 items) 3b) All participants will complete the Personal Profile (risk factor status questionnaire): 1. Genes, family and environment - Family history screen (FHS, 4 items), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, 9 items) 2. Thinking Styles - Rumination Response Scale (RRS, 22 items); 3. Coping styles - the brief COPE inventory (14 items); 4. Social Connections - the social connectedness items from Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) (10 items),; 5. Alcohol Use - Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (AAIS, 10 items); 6. Cannabis Use - Adolescent Drug Involvement Scale (ADIS, 10 items); 7. Tough Times - List of Threatening Life Experiences (LTE-Q, 12 items); 8. Family Dynamics - Measure of Parenting Styles (MOPS, 15 items). Step 4: Randomisation: Participants will be randomised to receive MindExpress (the intervention) or HealthWatch (the attention-control) using a using a pre-programmed randomiser. Participants will be blinded to their randomised assignment and told that the study is comparing different types of health Apps. Step 5: 5a) MindExpress Intervention arm: Education and CBT component – four x 30 minute sessions over 8 weeks spaced two weeks apart: Participants in the MindExpress arm will be automatically directed to complete three compulsory interactive education and CBT modules modules (Genes, family and environment, Thinking Styles and Coping Styles) plus one of five best-practice interactive CBT modules most relevant to personal circumstances (tailoring).. Direction to complete a tailored module is based on published cut off scores for the risk factor measure. Participants complete Stages of Change (5 items) pre- and post each module to measure readiness to change health behaviours related to the risk factor upon which the module is based. Participants complete ‘homework’ in-between modules (one 30 minute session per fortnight), which involves practicing the skills learned in the module and on return to the App report progress on a ‘landing page’ to complete the module before commencing the next one.
Sponsors
University of New South Wales
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
*Aged 16 to 25 years *Client of Aftercare-run headspace services *Showing early signs of mental health issues but not meeting full DSM-V criteria for mental illness (as advised by headspace clinician). *Ability to read and understand the English language *Regular access to own iphone or android smart phone, email and internet. *Willingness to provide name, email address and mobile number for risk management purposes and push notifications.
Exclusion criteria
*Age <16, >25 years *Kessler10 score >35 at time of recruitment. *As assessed by headspace clinician: Current clinical episode of a mental illnesses. Self-harm in previous month. Suicidal attempt in previous month. Psychotic features.
Outcome results
None listed