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Waitlist-Control Trial of Smartphone CBT for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Waitlist-control Trial

Status
Withdrawn
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04594616
Enrollment
0
Registered
2020-10-20
Start date
2024-09-01
Completion date
2027-12-01
Last updated
2025-05-26

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

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder

Brief summary

The investigators are testing the efficacy of Smartphone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). The investigators hypothesize that participants receiving app-CBT will have greater improvement in SIGH-D scores than those in the waitlist condition at treatment endpoint (week 8).

Detailed description

The primary aims of this study are to test the efficacy of a Smartphone-based CBT treatment for adults with MDD recruited nationally. Eligible subjects (N=112) will be randomly assigned to 8 weeks of Smartphone-delivered CBT for MDD either immediately, or after a 8-week long waiting period (50-50 chance). The investigators hypothesize that Smartphone-delivered CBT for MDD will be feasible and acceptable to individuals with MDD, and that it will lead to greater reductions in MDD symptom severity compared to the passage of time (waitlist control).

Interventions

8-week Smartphone-delivered CBT for MDD. In-person cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment for MDD. The app-delivered CBT in this project includes modules such as cognitive skills (e.g., cognitive restructuring, core belief work), behavioral activation, and perceptual retraining/mindfulness skills.

Sponsors

Koa Health B.V.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* At least 18 years of age * Current diagnosis of primary DSM-5 MDD, based on MINI * Currently living in the United States

Exclusion criteria

* Psychotropic medication changes within 2 months prior to enrollment (Participants taking psychotropic medication must have been on a stable dose for at least 2 months prior to enrollment and not change medication during study period) * Past participation in ≥ 4 sessions of CBT for depression * Current severe substance use disorder * Lifetime bipolar disorder or psychosis * Acute, active suicidal ideation as indicated by clinical judgment and/or a score ≥ 2 on the suicidal ideation subscale of the C-SSRS * Concurrent psychological treatment * Does not own a supported mobile Smartphone with a data plan * Lack of technology literacy that would interfere with ability to engage with smartphone treatment

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Difference in MDD severity (SIGH-D) at the end of treatment/waitlist period.Endpoint (week 8)The Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (SIGH-D) is a clinician-administered interview that assesses depressive symptom severity in the past seven days. It contains 16 items ranging from 0-3, which are summed to generate a total score of depressive symptom severity (range=0-27). \*\*\*\* EDIT

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Difference in functional impairment at the end of treatment/waitlist periodEndpoint (week 8)Participants who receive app-CBT will have greater improvement on functional impairment (WSAS). The WSAS uses a Likert scale from 0 (not impaired at all) to 8 (very severely impaired) to assess impairment in occupational, social, and family/friends domains. Higher scores indicate greater impairment.
Difference in quality of life at the end of treatment/waitlist period: Q-LES-Q-SFEndpoint (week 8)Participants who receive app-CBT will have greater improvement on quality of life, assessed using The Quality of Life, Enjoyment, and Satisfaction Questionnaire - Short Form (Q-LES-Q). The Q-LES-Q-SF is a self-report measure of subjective quality of life, containing Likert items ranging from 1 (Very Poor) to 5 (Very Good). Total scores are presented as a percentage of the maximum value (i.e., ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater quality of life).

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026