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Internet-delivered Intervention Targeting Residual Cognitive Symptoms After Major Depressive Disorder

A Guided Internet-delivered Intervention for Adults With Residual Cognitive Symptoms After Major Depressive Disorder: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Clinical Effects

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04864353
Acronym
RestDep
Enrollment
44
Registered
2021-04-28
Start date
2021-04-26
Completion date
2024-04-30
Last updated
2025-03-12

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

Conditions

Cognitive Impairment, Cognitive Remediation, Major Depression in Remission

Brief summary

Background: Cognitive impairment and difficulties are frequently observed in individuals suffering from major depressive disorder. These impairments and difficulties can persist into remission as residual cognitive symptoms. Consequently affecting daily life functioning and quality of life for those affected. Few scalable interventions have targeted these symptoms and measured long-term clinical effects such as depression relapse.

Detailed description

Background:Cognitive impairment and difficulties are frequently observed in individuals suffering from major depressive disorder. These impairments and difficulties can persist into remission as residual cognitive symptoms. Consequently affecting daily life functioning and quality of life for those affected. Few scalable interventions have targeted these symptoms and measured long-term clinical effects such as depression relapse. Objectives: The aim is to assess the clinical effects of an intervention targeting residual cognitive symptoms after major depressive disorder. More specifically, if residual cognitive symptoms would be significantly decreased from pre- to post-treatment and remain stable at the 6-month and 2 year follow-up. Methods: the study is a randomized, waitlist controlled trial including a total of 60 participants (30 in each arm). Primary measures are residual cognitive symptoms measured by the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions Adults (BRIEF-A) and Perceived Deficit Questionnaire 5 (PDQ-5). Secondary outcome measures are Depression measured by Montgomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and 2 (PHQ-9 and PHQ2), Satisfaction with life measured by Satisfaction with life scale (SWLS), Credibility measured by the Treatment Credibility and Expectation Scale, Rumination measured by the Rumination Response Scale (RRS), Depression screening assessed using the MINI International Psychiatric Interview, Usage data measured by number of log-ins, session length and days in treatment. Quantitative statistical methods will be used to analyze data. Discussion: The results from the study will contribute to field of internet interventions and provide former depressed adults with an easy access intervention in the treatment of residual cognitive symptoms.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALRestDep: Internet-delivered intervention targeting residual cognitive symptoms

The intervention is fully digital with weekly telephone guidance. Key intervention elements are 1) psychoeducation, 2) attention training, 3) strategy training. Cognitive domains as attention, memory and executive functions are covered and rumination.

Sponsors

University of Bergen
CollaboratorOTHER
Haukeland University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Masking description

The assessor do not allocate the participant to the intervention or waitlist group.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Previously received treatment for major depressive disorder in primary or secondary healthcare services * Reporting a history of major depressive disorder symptoms assess using the MINI. few or minor depression symptomss (\< 12 MADRS) * Not meeting criteria for major depressive disorder measured by the MINI) * Self-reporting residual cognitive symptoms that affects daily functioning (assessed by clinical psychologist) * No changes in anti-depressant medication under the study period * Age between 18 and 65 years * Read and write Norwegian * Internet and telephone access.

Exclusion criteria

* Self-reported substance abuse * Neurological conditions or damage (e.g. autism, cerebral haemorrhage, and brain tumour) * Bipolar disorder * Psychosis.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Behaviour Rating Inventory Of Executive Function-Adult2.5 yearsThe Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult (BRIEF-A; Roth, Isquith, & Gioia, 2005) is a 75-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure adults' behaviors associated with executive problems.
Perceived Deficit Questionnaire 52.5 yearsBrief assessment of subjective cognitive difficulties and covers problems with concentration (e.g. trouble concentrating on things like watching a television program or reading a book?), memory (e.g. forget what you talked about after a telephone conversation?), and executive functioning (e.g. have trouble getting things organized?). Every item is rated on a scale of 0 (Never) to 4 (Almost always) to yield a sum score of 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating greater severity of cognitive symptoms.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patient Health Questionaire 9 and 22.5 yearsThe Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9: Kroenke et al., 2001) is a self-report tool used to assess the presence and severity of depressive symptoms. Reliability and validity of the tool have indicated it has sound psychometric properties. Internal consistency of the PHQ-9 has been shown to be high.
The Satisfaction With Life Scale2.5 yearsThe SWLS (Kobau et al., 2010) is a short 5-item instrument designed to measure global cognitive judgments of satisfaction with one's life. The scale usually requires only about one minute of a respondent's time.
The Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire8 monthsThe Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (Borkovec & Nau, 1972) measures treatment credibility and expectancy. Participants rated perceived treatment credibility and expectancy on a scale from 0 to 10 were higher scores indicated better treatment credibility or expectancy.
Rumination Response Scale2.5 yearsThe Rumination Response Scale (RRS; Treynor, Gonzalez, & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2003) is a questionnaire frequently used to assess rumination in depression. The 22-item RRS measures the current degree of ruminative responses to depressed mood.
Session length8 months.Average length of each log-in during the intervention period.
Days in treatment8 monthsNumber of days in intervention from receiving intervention until completion.
Log-ins8 monthsNumber of sessions were participants have logged into the intervention during the intervention period.
Montgomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale2.5 yearsThe Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Self-report (MADRS-S; Svanborg & Åsberg, 2001) is a self-report questionnaire measuring depressive symptoms during the past three days. The MADRS-S consists of 9 items where the following symptoms are rated on a seven-point scale ranging from 0 to 6.

Countries

Norway

Outcome results

None listed

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