depressed mood sadness
Conditions
Interventions
In both conditions, patients and their relative receive psychoeducation. This 
is manualized and consists of an explanation of the symptoms, possible causes, 
diagnosis and treatment of depression according to the Dutch CBT protocol book 
*Protocollaire behandelingen voor volwassenen*, section depressive disorder.
In addition to the above, in the VR psychoeducation condition, patients and 
relatives also watch the VR depression experience video. This consists of two 
360º videos which summarize multiple fragments of a day in the life of a female 
depressive patient (1) from her perspective and (2) from the perspective of her 
male partner.The VR-experience includes getting up in the morning, having 
breakfast, interaction with the partner, sitting around in the afternoon not 
being able to undertake an activity and taking medication through the eyes of 
the patient whilst hearing her inner thoughts. The relative watches the video 
from the patient*s perspective, this takes 6 minutes. The study participant 
has the possibility to watch along on a screen. The study participant watches 
the VR-experience from the perspective of the partner, this experience takes 4 
minutes in total. This experience includes mainly the same scenes
getting up 
in the morning, having breakfast, the evening after the partner returns from 
his job. This time, the study participant watches the scenes whilst hearing the 
inner thoughts of the partner, and the relative of the study participant has 
the possibility to watch along on a screen. After both the study participant 
Sponsors
Academisch Medisch Centrum
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 64 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * A principal diagnosis of depression (all severities), either a first or recurrent episode, as determined by a BIG-registered psychologist (clinical or GZ) or psychiatrist * Age between 18-65 * Willing to involve a relative (partner, friend, family member) * Scheduled to start psychotherapy individually or in a group at an outpatient clinic or psychology practice * Written informed consent by both the patient and the relative to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: * Intellectual disability in the history * Severe comorbid psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia-like disorders, bipolar disorder or addictive disorders * Abnormal hearing or uncorrected vision
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The main study parameter is the difference in feelings of self-stigma, as measured by the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale, before and after psychoeducation, after 1 week and after 10 weeks. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary parameters include perceived social support, loneliness and depressive symptoms for the patient and burden of care and quality of life for relatives. | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed