Anxiety, Depression
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of online support groups for anxiety and depression.
Detailed description
In recent years the number of online support groups for conditions like depression and anxiety has grown rapidly. Millions of people are thought to be using them around the world. This research aims to help find out whether the use of online support groups is beneficial and to learn more about what happens in these groups. This research will compare online support groups with expressive writing. Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time. In online support groups giving and receiving support from others can be helpful while expressive writing about emotional issues can be cathartic. 1,000 participants will be recruited online from the UK, USA and Canada and randomly assigned to either an existing online support group or to an expressive writing condition.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALOnline support group
Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time.
BEHAVIORALExpressive writing
Online support groups are internet forums where like-minded people give and receive both informational and emotional support.
Sponsors
University College, London
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Self-defined depression & anxiety * Resident in the UK, US or Canada * Access to the internet
Exclusion criteria
\-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale | Zero, three and six months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Satisfaction with Life Scale | Zero, three and six months |
| The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey | Zero, three and six months |
| Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment | Zero, three and six months |
| The Illness perception questionnaire | Zero, three and six months |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed