Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders worldwide. The symptoms of depression can vary greatly from person to person, but generally include low mood, problems with sleeping and/or eating, and loss of interest in life. There are a range of treatments available for people suffering from depression, including a range of different talking therapies and medications. Although many find the current treatments effective, they do not work for everyone and there is room to improve. Current psychological treatments are effective at reducing negativity (thinking and feeling sad) but are less successful at building positivity (thinking and feeling happy). It is known that reduced positivity predicts that individuals will stay depressed for longer and are more likely to become depressed again in the future. Augmented Depression Therapy (ADepT) is a new therapy which has been developed to treat depression, which aims to simultaneously reduce negativity and build positivity in an effort to keep people well in the long term. The aim of this study is to find out whether a large study looking at the effectiveness of ADepT would be possible.
Who can participate?
Adults suffering from depression
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive up to 20 sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is a type of talking therapy that identifies and modifies negative automatic thinking and unhelpful beliefs to assist people to develop more helpful ways of thinking and behaving. Those in the second group receive up to 20 sessions of ADepT, which identifies what is important to people in their work, relationships, hobbies and self-care and helps them work towards these goals (trouble shooting as necessary if depression trips them up during this process). Participants are followed up at six, 12 and 18 months after beginning treatment with interviews and questionnaires to assess the impact of the treatment on depression and wellbeing.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from a reduction in their depressive symptoms. There are no notable risks involved with participating.
Where is the study run from?
1. University of Exeter (UK)
2. Devon Partnership Trust (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2016 to January 2020
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
1. Miss Emily Widnall (Public)
e.widnall@exeter.ac.uk
2. Dr Barney Dunn (Scientific)
b.d.dunn@exeter.ac.uk
Trial website
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/mooddisorders/research/currentprojects/adept/
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Miss Emily Widnall
ORCID ID
Contact details
University of Exeter
Washington Singer Building
School of Psychology
Exeter
EX4 4QG
United Kingdom
+44 1392 723493
e.widnall@exeter.ac.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Dr Barney Dunn
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0299-0920
Contact details
University of Exeter
Washington Singer Building
School of Psychology
Exeter
EX4 4QG
United Kingdom
+44 13 92 72 4680
b.d.dunn@exeter.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
33421
Study information
Scientific title
Improving depression treatment outcomes by better repairing positivity deficits: A Feasibility pilot randomised controlled trial evaluation of an Augmented Depression Therapy targeting wellbeing (ADepT)
Acronym
ADepT
Study hypothesis
1. What are the estimated between-group differences (and 95% confidence intervals) in patient-related outcomes following Augmented Depression Therapy relative to CBT?
2. How acceptable is Augmented Depression Therapy to key stakeholders?
3. What proportion of patients approached to take part will agree to do so?
4. What proportion of patients who agree to take part will adhere to a pre-defined per-protocol dose of Augmented Depression Therapy or CBT?
5. What proportion of patients who agree to take part complete all outcome assessments?
6. What proportion of patients who agree to take part will remain in the trial at 18 month follow-up?
7. How do patients’ views about Augmented Depression Therapy relate to the variability in the number of treatment sessions they attend?
8. What are patient and therapist views about the best choice of primary outcome in the definitive trial?
9. What is the variance in patient-related outcomes following Augmented Depression Therapy and CBT, and how do they correlate with patients’ baseline scores?
10. What is the cost of providing Augmented Depression Therapy and CBT?
11. How well does the Augmented Depression Therapy Supervisory Rating Scale function?
Ethics approval
Plymouth and Cornwall Research Ethics Committee, 17/02/2017, ref: 17/SW/0009
Study design
Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Psychological & Behavioural
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub-specialty: Depression; UKCRC code/ Disease: Mental Health/ Mood [affective] disorders
Intervention
Participants are randomly allocated to either receiving augmented depression therapy or cognitive behaviour therapy.
Augmented Depression Therapy (ADepT) consists of up to 15 weekly core therapy sessions followed by five booster sessions (approximately bi-monthly) over the following year (each of one hour duration). Sessions are conducted face to face and follow a structured but formulation driven programme. The primary goal of ADepT is to build wellbeing, viewing depression as a barrier that gets in the way of this aim. Clients are supported to identify values consistent goals and to behaviourally activate themselves towards achieving these goals. Patterns of thinking and behaving that get in the way of dealing with challenges (being resilient) and taking opportunities (thriving) when working towards these goals are mapped out and new adaptive patterns of thinking and behaving are rehearsed. A wellbeing plan is developed at the end of the core sessions and booster sessions review progress with this wellbeing plan. Therapists delivering ADepT follow a bespoke treatment manual (developed during a prior case series evaluation of ADepT) and receive up to 90 minutes of supervision per week in a group format.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) consists of up to 20 weekly, face-to-face sessions of one hour duration, following a structured but formulation driven programme. Treatment begins with behavioural change techniques before moving on to identify and modify negative thoughts and beliefs. A relapse prevention plan is developed at the end of treatment, helping clients anticipate and manage possible stressors that could trigger a further depressive episode. Participants receive up to 90 minutes of supervision per week in a group format.
Participants are asked to complete measures (questionnaires, interviews, feedback booklets etc.) before therapy, at six months (approximately when therapy ends), twelve months, and eighteen months.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Phase II
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Severity of depression and anxiety symptoms are measured using the 9 item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; Kroenke et al., 2001) and the 7 item version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006) at baseline, six, 12 and 18 months
2. Wellbeing outcomes are measured using the 14 item version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS; Clark et al., 2003) at baseline, six, 12 and 18 months
3. Cost of therapies are measured using records from therapists (including training, preparation, supervision, session, and travel time) using standard micro-costing (bottom-up) approaches at baseline, six, 12 and 18 months
4. Participants views and experiences are assessed with feedback booklets at the end of treatment, with a subset of respondents being invited to take part in interviews between the end of treatment and 12 month follow-up
Secondary outcome measures
1. Impact of ADepT versus CBT are measured using patient self-report, laboratory experimental and experience sampling data at baseline and six months
2. Health economic analyses are measured using Adult Service Use Schedule (AD-SUS), the Investigating Choice Experiments Capability Measure for Adults (ICECAP-A), the EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), and the Absenteeism and Presenteeism items of the World Health Organization Health and Performance Questionnaire (HPQ) at baseline, six, twelve and eighteen months
Overall trial start date
01/07/2016
Overall trial end date
01/01/2020
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged over 18 or over
2. Suffering from a current major depressive episode (MDE) assessed by structured clinical interview for diagnosis (SCID-I)
3. Have a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression score =>10
4. Present with significant anhedonic symptoms (PHQ-9 item 1 score =>2)
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 80; UK Sample Size: 80
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Depression is not the primary presenting problem
2. Alcohol or drug dependent
3. Acutely suicidal or self-harming
4. Cognitively impaired
5. Have bipolar disorder or psychosis/psychotic symptoms ascertained at baseline research interviews
6. Currently receiving another psychological therapy
Recruitment start date
29/03/2017
Recruitment end date
31/07/2018
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Exeter
AccEPT Clinic
Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research
Perry Road
EX4 4QG
Exeter
EX4 4QG
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Devon Partnership Trust
Wonford House
Dryden Road
Exeter
EX2 5AF
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Exeter
Sponsor details
Research & Knowledge Transfer
Innovation Centre
Rennes Drive
Exeter
EX4 4RN
United Kingdom
+44 1392 726621
g.m.seymour@exeter.ac.uk
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Federal/National Government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
01/01/2021
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list