The Morita Trial

Morita therapy for depression and anxiety: a feasibility and pilot study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN17544090

Enrollment

Registered

2015-07-23

Start date

2015-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2023-08-28

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

Conditions

People with current DSM Major Depressive Disorder, with or without DSM Anxiety Disorders Mental and Behavioural Disorders Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

1. Morita Therapy: Morita Therapy will be delivered at the University of Exeter's Mood Disorders Centre AccEPT Clinic: www.exeter.ac.uk/moooddisorders/acceptclinic/. Morita Therapy is a novel and su

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 18 years or above 2. Current DSM Major Depressive Disorder (people may take part whether they are in receipt of anti-depressant medication or not)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Cognitive impairment 2. Alcohol or drug dependence 3. Psychosis/psychotic symptoms and/or mania 4. Demonstration of any risk to self or others that would require management by specialist mental health or other services 5. Current receipt of psychological therapy

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Quantitative data will be collected at baseline assessment and follow-up, four months post baseline assessment. Given this is a feasibility study with a range of different aims, we plan to collect a variety of data: severity of depressive symptoms (9 item version of the Patient Health Questionnaire: PHQ-9 (Kroenke et al., 2001)), severity of generalised anxiety symptoms (7 item Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire: GAD-7 (Spitzer et al., 2006)), quality of life (Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire: SF-36 (Ware et al., 2000); Work and Social Adjustment Scale: WSAS (Mundt et al., 2002)), and attitudes (The Morita Attitudinal Scale for Arugamama: MASA (Richards et al., 2011)). For participants in the Morita Therapy arm, the therapists will also inform the study researcher of the number of Morita Therapy sessions completed by patients. Data on participants’ use of services will also be collected at four month follow-up in order to characterise primary care as usual and calculate the cost of Morita Therapy for any definitive trial. During pre-treatment qualitative interviews, we will explore participants’ journeys to becoming involved in the Morita trial and their reasons for wanting to be involved in the study in terms of both the type of research being conducted and the type of treatment being tested. During post-treatment qualitative interviews on the acceptability of Morita Therapy, we will explore interviewees’ views and experiences of Morita Therapy; potential barriers to/facilitating factors in engaging in Morita Therapy; and the feasibility and appropriateness of the trial procedures and measures.	—

Measure

Time frame

Quantitative data will be collected at baseline assessment and follow-up, four months post baseline assessment. Given this is a feasibility study with a range of different aims, we plan to collect a variety of data: severity of depressive symptoms (9 item version of the Patient Health Questionnaire: PHQ-9 (Kroenke et al., 2001)), severity of generalised anxiety symptoms (7 item Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire: GAD-7 (Spitzer et al., 2006)), quality of life (Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire: SF-36 (Ware et al., 2000); Work and Social Adjustment Scale: WSAS (Mundt et al., 2002)), and attitudes (The Morita Attitudinal Scale for Arugamama: MASA (Richards et al., 2011)). For participants in the Morita Therapy arm, the therapists will also inform the study researcher of the number of Morita Therapy sessions completed by patients. Data on participants’ use of services will also be collected at four month follow-up in order to characterise primary care as usual and calculate the cost of Morita Therapy for any definitive trial. During pre-treatment qualitative interviews, we will explore participants’ journeys to becoming involved in the Morita trial and their reasons for wanting to be involved in the study in terms of both the type of research being conducted and the type of treatment being tested. During post-treatment qualitative interviews on the acceptability of Morita Therapy, we will explore interviewees’ views and experiences of Morita Therapy; potential barriers to/facilitating factors in engaging in Morita Therapy; and the feasibility and appropriateness of the trial procedures and measures.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
There are no secondary outcome measures	—

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 13, 2026