Internet-assisted therapy for adults with depressive symptoms: a study for the effectiveness of interpersonal therapy (IPT) compared to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

ISRCTN ISRCTN69603913
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN69603913
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
10/10/2008
Registration date
27/10/2008
Last edited
10/07/2014
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Helen Christensen
Scientific

Centre for Mental Health Research
The Australian National University
Building 63
Canberra
ACT 0200
Australia

Study information

Study designSingle-centre interventional automated online randomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleInternet-assisted therapy for adults with depressive symptoms: a randomised controlled trial for the effectiveness of interpersonal therapy (IPT) compared to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
Study objectives1. To determine whether an internet-delivered module of interpersonal therapy (IPT) is as effective as a cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) module in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety
1.1. To determine which if any psychological variables mediate the effects on these outcomes, or predict adherence to the IPT intervention
1.2. To determine which if any psychological variables moderate the effects on these outcomes, or predict adherence to the IPT intervention
2. To determine whether the internet-delivered module of IPT is rated as feasible, acceptable and satisfactory as the CBT module
3. To determine whether the IPT and CBT modules produce comparable effects to the MoodGYM intervention
Ethics approval(s)Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), Australian National University (ANU) Canberra, 14/09/2008, ref: 2008/269
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedDepressive and anxiety disorders
InterventionThe conditions used in the study are:

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT):
The Internet-assisted CBT intervention was developed by the Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR), Australian National University (ANU). This intervention is based on the principles of CBT. It was developed by the e-hub team and consists of three major sections each of which contains 10 or so exercises or sets of messages. The programme will be offered over 4 weeks. Each week an automated email will be used to remind participants of the availability of their new module.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT):
IPT is a time-limited psychotherapy developed by Klerman et al. (1984) focusing on the onset of depression associated with interpersonal stress. IPT seeks to identify and link interpersonal stressors or conflicts to mood symptoms and to improve interpersonal functioning to reduce depressive symptoms. It has shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms among adults. The internet-assisted form of IPT, developed by the CMHR, ANU, consists of four modules. The material will be delivered over four weeks.

Standard CBT (MoodGYM) - control condition:
Participants in this condition will receive the standard online CBT package as delivered over 4 weeks by MoodGYM.

Follow-up: 6 months after end of intervention
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Symptoms of depression and anxiety as measured by the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Questionnaires (0 'no depression/anxiety' - 9 'depression/anxiety') four times during the course (1 per week)
2. Symptoms of depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (0 'no depressive symptoms' - 60 'severe depressive symptoms') measured at pre-test (baseline), post-test (after intervention) and follow-up (6 months)
Secondary outcome measures1. Mental Health Literacy (to be developed by CMHR)
2. Stigma, as measured with the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) - Personal: 9 items, 1 (high level of stigma) to 35 (low level of stigma)
3. Satisfaction with the intervention as measured with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8): score 1 (not satisfied) to 32 (very satisfied)
4. Dysfunctional thinking as measured with the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale-Short Form (DAS-SF) (18 items, 1: low dysfunctional thinking to 126 high level of dysfunctional thinking)
5. Drop-out, measured by the drop-out survey developed by CMHR
6. Worrying, measured with the 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) (0 'no anxiety' - 21 'high level of anxiety')
7. Eurohisqol (8 item) to measure quality of life (1: poor quality of life - 40: high quality of life)
8. Days out of role to measure disability (0 days: no disability; 30 days: severe disability)
9. Mastery to measure perceived control, 7 items (1: low internal control; 28 high internal control)
10. Adherence to the intervention measured by sessions completed

All scales will be measured at pre-test (baseline), post-test (after intervention) and follow-up (6 months), except for the drop out survey (only when people drop out) and CSQ (only post-test).
Overall study start date01/11/2008
Completion date01/11/2009

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants300 (data recruitment closed since December 2011)
Key inclusion criteriaAll individuals (both males and females) will be included in the trial unless they are currently under 18 years of age or are currently receiving treatment for depression by a mental health specialist. Both people with and without depressive symptoms can participate in this trial, as the intervention aims to prevent depression as well as to treat the condition.
Key exclusion criteriaIndividuals younger than 18 years or currently under treatment for depression by a mental health specialist
Date of first enrolment01/11/2008
Date of final enrolment01/11/2009

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Australia

Study participating centre

Centre for Mental Health Research
Canberra
ACT 0200
Australia

Sponsor information

Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) - The Australian National University (ANU) (Australia)
University/education

Building 63
Eggleston Road
Canberra
0200 ACT
Australia

Website http://cmhr.anu.edu.au
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/019wvm592

Funders

Funder type

University/education

Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) - The Australian National University (ANU) (Australia)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 13/05/2013 Yes No