Application of a self-help smartphone app for students with depressive symptoms: a randomized controlled trial

Application of a self-help smartphone app for students with depressive symptoms: a randomized controlled trial - MCT & More

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00020941

Enrollment

386

Registered

2020-04-21

Start date

2020-03-27

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-06

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

Conditions

F32

Interventions

Group 1: Interventional: Self-help smartphone app for treating depressive symptoms

The app "MKT & Mehr" contains 90 short exercises covering the following topics: cognitive strategies, communication and interaction, activating activities, mindfulness and imagination, and metacogniti

using regular outpatient care during the intervention period is permitted

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 24 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: inclusion criteria are: Studying at a German university, informed consent, age between 18 and 24 years, having Internet access and a smartphone, willingness to take part in two anonymous online surveys, willingness to participate in the 4-week self-help smartphone app, willingness to use the self-help smartphone app at own risk, willingness to leave an anonymous e-mail address for the survey, presence of depressive symptoms

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria are: acute suicidal tendency and bipolar or psychotic disorder currently or in the past

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 Depression Module (PHQ-9) is used as a primary success parameter to determine the severity of depressive symptoms in the last 2 weeks (at T0 and T1 after 4 weeks).	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Secondary success parameters will be a global item of the WHOQOL-BREF for measuring quality of life (T0 and T1), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) for measuring self-esteem (T0 and T1), the Attitude Towards Psychological Online Interventions Questionnaire (APOI; T0) and the Patientenfragebogen zur Therapieerwartung und Therapieevaluation (PATHEV; T0). In addition, sociodemographic data and psychotherapy experience will be recorded for T0. For T1, possible negative side effects will be recorded via the Inventar zur Erfassung negativer Effekte von Psychotherapie (INEP) and patient satisfaction will be recorded via the Fragebogen zur Messung der Patientenzufriedenheit (ZUF-8).	—

Measure

Time frame

Secondary success parameters will be a global item of the WHOQOL-BREF for measuring quality of life (T0 and T1), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) for measuring self-esteem (T0 and T1), the Attitude Towards Psychological Online Interventions Questionnaire (APOI; T0) and the Patientenfragebogen zur Therapieerwartung und Therapieevaluation (PATHEV; T0). In addition, sociodemographic data and psychotherapy experience will be recorded for T0. For T1, possible negative side effects will be recorded via the Inventar zur Erfassung negativer Effekte von Psychotherapie (INEP) and patient satisfaction will be recorded via the Fragebogen zur Messung der Patientenzufriedenheit (ZUF-8).

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactSteffen Moritz

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie

moritz@uke.de+4940741056565

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 15, 2026