Mental Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
Maintenance intervention, Text messages, Emotion Regulation
Brief summary
The study presents findings from a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of text messages encouraging short emotion regulation exercises on the course of psychopathological symptoms after inpatient treatment for depression. In this context, the study also compares the effectiveness of standardized versus personalized text messages.
Detailed description
Introduction: The importance of aftercare and maintenance intervention to reduce psychopathology, prevent relapses and stabilize the effects of inpatient cognitive behavioral therapy is well proven. In order to attain a high reachability rate among the patients, simple, quick and low cost methods should be used. Modern communication technologies, such as mobile phones provide this opportunity. Therefore, the current study explores how modern communication technologies can be used as a support system in psychotherapy to realize a reduced psychopathology. Methods: A total of 150 patients participated in a transdiagnostical 6-weeks text messaging maintenance intervention. The text messages were based on emotion regulation skills. The effectiveness of different variants of the text messages was studied in a randomized controlled trial, comparing the impact on the patient's psychopathological outcome to receiving personalized text messages versus standardized text messages.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALstandardized text messages
Messages consist of relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises as well as emotion regulation strategies
BEHAVIORALPersonalized text messages
Patients write their own messages
BEHAVIORALStandardized text messages after 10 weeks
Messages consist of relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises as well as emotion regulation strategies which are send to the patients 10 weeks after completing inpatient therapy
Sponsors
Philipps University Marburg
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* good knowledge of the german language * owning a mobile phone
Exclusion criteria
* brain damage * personality disorders
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Depressive Symptom load | 6 weeks post treatment (after intervention) | Measurement of depressive symptom severity with Beck Depression Inventory |
| Emotion Regulation Competence | 6 weeks post treatment (after intervention) | Emotion Regulation Competence measured by SERSA |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Psychopathological symptomatology | 10 weeks Follow-Up | Measurement of psychopathological symptomatology with self report questionnaires |
| Depressive Symptom load | 10 weeks Follow-Up | Measurement of depressive symptom severity with Beck Depression Inventory |
| Emotion Regulation Competence | 10 weeks follow up | Emotion Regulation Competence measured by SERSA |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed