Randomized controlled trial of DiaDeM, an adapted behavioural activation intervention, for people with depression and diabetes in South Asia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN40885204 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN40885204 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | DiaDeM-NIHR200806 |
| Sponsor | University of York |
| Funder | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
- Submission date
- 03/03/2023
- Registration date
- 11/04/2023
- Last edited
- 20/05/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
People with long-term physical health conditions, such as diabetes, are more likely to experience depression. Diabetes is a growing global problem, particularly in South Asia. When people have depression and diabetes, outcomes for both are worse, resulting in poorer health, quality of life, earlier deaths, and increased costs for individuals, families and healthcare services.
This study will test a culturally appropriate treatment for depression in people with diabetes in Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be based on a relatively simple psychological talking treatment called behavioural activation, which has been shown to treat depression effectively and can be delivered by non-specialist health workers. Behavioural activation helps people make the link between what they do and how they feel and supports them to make changes to improve their health.
Who can participate?
Patients aged over 18 years with confirmed diagnoses of type 2 diabetes and depression, presenting at the diabetes care clinics in the DiaDeM study sites in Bangladesh and Pakistan
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either behavioural activation or usual care. The researchers will follow up with both groups 6 and 12 months later to find out whether behavioural activation improves depression, self-care of diabetes, blood sugar levels, physical health and quality of life, and if it offers value for money. The researchers will also examine what it means to have both depression and diabetes from an economic perspective e.g. how much time and money patients and carers spend in accessing care. This information will help policymakers in their decisions about the provision of appropriate healthcare.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The findings will be of value to people with depression and diabetes, their families, health professionals, policymakers and researchers. Findings and recommendations will inform on how to treat depression in diabetes which will help improve management and treatment practices for people with co-morbid depression and diabetes. During the study, laboratory tests of participants will be done on each follow-up visit which will be completely free of cost for the participants, they will receive test results and also if needed referrals for required treatment/ advice.
There are no adverse effects or no major risks involved in participating but during the study, participants may be asked about their experience of living with depression and diabetes which may cause them to feel distressed, upset or uncomfortable.
Where is the study run from?
The study is being led by the University of York, Hull York Medical School, Tees, Esk & Wear Valley NHS Trust. Other collaborators include the University of Southampton, The University of Leeds University College London from the UK, Khyber Medical University, the Institute of Psychiatry, Rawalpindi Medical University and Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology from Pakistan, the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and Ark Foundation from Bangladesh.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2020 to December 2024
Who is funding the study?
NIHR Global Health Research Programme (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Najma Siddiqi, najma.siddiqi@york.ac.uk
Contact information
Principal investigator
Department of Health Sciences
Room A/RRC/203b
ARRC Building
University of York
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-1794-2152 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1904 32 1681 |
| najma.siddiqi@york.ac.uk |
Principal investigator
Yorks Trial Unit
ARRC Building
University of York
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
| ORCID ID |
0000-0002-0415-3536 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1904 321374 |
| catherine.hewitt@york.ac.uk |
Scientific
Department of Health Sciences
Room A/RRC/203b
ARRC Building
University of York
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
| ORCID ID |
0000-0002-2253-3911 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)7563350578 |
| faraz.siddiqui@york.ac.uk |
Public
Institute of Psychiatry
Benazir Bhutto Hospital
Rawalpindi Medical University
Murree Road
Rawalpindi
46000
Pakistan
| ORCID ID |
0000-0002-7847-7250 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +92 (0)3009553830 |
| faiza.aslam@york.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multi-centre multi-country parallel-arm single-blinded randomized controlled trial with an embedded economic and mixed-methods process evaluation |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Participant information sheet | 43310_PIS_V1.1_09Mar23.pdf |
| Scientific title | A multicentre, multicountry, randomised controlled trial of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of DiaDeM, an adapted behavioural activation intervention for people with depression and diabetes in South Asia |
| Study acronym | DiaDeM |
| Study objectives | Hypothesis 1: DiaDeM behavioural activation intervention is clinically effective in reducing the severity of depression at 6 months when compared to optimised usual care, for people with depression and diabetes. Hypothesis 2: DiaDeM behavioural activation intervention is cost-effective, over the trial period compared to optimised usual care from the perspective of the healthcare system and other broader perspectives. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Approved 02/10/2020, Health Sciences Research Governance Committee (HSRGC), University of York (Department of Health Sciences, c/o Department of Philosophy, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK; +44 (0)1904 323253; smh12@york.ac.uk), ref: HSRGC/2020/409/B 2. Approved 12/12/2020, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (122 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shahbag Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh; +880 (0)58616641 50; email: not provided), ref: BADAS-ERC/EC/20/00300 3. Approved 05/01/2021, National Bioethics Committee Pakistan (Pakistan Health Research Council, Shahrah-e-Jamhuriat, Off Constitution Avenue, Sector G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan; +92 (0)51 9224325, 9216793, nbcpakistan.org@gmail.com), ref: 4-87/NBC-578/20/1101 and annual extensions: 1. ref: 4-87/NBC-578/22/1607 in 2022; 2. ref4-87/NBC-578/23/1382 in 2023; and, 3. ref: 4-87/NBC-578/23/1382/1519 in 2024. 4. Approved 20/10/2020, Institutional Research and Ethics Forum of Rawalpindi Medical University (Tipu Rd, Chamanzar Colony, Rawalpindi, Punjab 46000, Pakistan; Tel: not provided; jaber.dme.rmc@gmail.com), ref: 242/IREF/RMU/2020 5. Approved 08/10/2020, Ethics Committee of Office of Research Innovation & Commercialisation (ORIC) (Khyber Medical University [KMU], Khyber Medical University Road, Phase V, Hayatabad, Peshawar, Pakistan; +91 (0)9217258, +91 (0)9217258; oric@kmu.edu.pk), ref: DIR/KMU/UEC/25 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Co-morbid depression and type 2 diabetes |
| Intervention | Individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and depression will be screened to confirm eligibility criteria and will be recruited after written informed consent. On completion of the baseline Case Report Form (CRF), each recruited participant will be randomly allocated to either the treatment or control arm. Randomization will use a 1:1 allocation ratio and will follow a computer-generated randomization sequence that will be stratified by country with randomly permuted blocks of varying block sizes and will be generated using Stata version 17 or later. Participants randomized to the DiaDeM Behavioural Activation (BA) intervention group will receive structured individual therapy delivered by BA facilitators based in diabetes clinics, supported by a treatment manual, and a participant and facilitator booklet, with supervision by a mental health specialist. Six 30-40-minute sessions over a period of 6 to 12 weeks will be offered. The sessions will be delivered preferably face-to-face, or remotely according to the participant's preference. The ‘optimised usual care’ information leaflet will also be offered. Participants in the control group will receive an ‘optimised usual care’ leaflet that includes information on depression, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for depression along with the procedures and contacts for accessing help. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Severity of depressive symptoms assessed using the PHQ-9 instrument at 6 months post-randomisation |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
The following secondary outcomes will be assessed at the 6- and 12-month follow-up timepoints: |
| Completion date | 31/12/2024 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 604 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Individuals seeking outpatient diabetes care in the DiaDeM study sites in Bangladesh and Pakistan with the following characteristics will be included: 1. Age >18 years old at the time of screening/recruitment 2. Confirmed physician diagnosis of type 2 diabetes based on standardised diagnostic criteria (clinical presentation and HbA1C levels) and registered at the diabetes centre 3. Scoring ≥3 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) depression screening tool, and subsequently scoring ≥5 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and confirmed diagnosis of depression using depression schedule A of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V-Research Version (SCID-V-RV) 4. Willingness to attend BA sessions in person or remotely |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Currently receiving psychotherapy for depression at the time of screening/recruitment 2. Unable to provide consent due to cognitive impairment or psychological or physical illness severity |
| Date of first enrolment | 06/03/2023 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
Study participating centres
Nazimabad
Karachi, Sind
74600
Pakistan
122 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue
Dhaka
1000
Bangladesh
Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
25000
Pakistan
Near Chandni Chowk
Chah Sultan
Murree Road
Rawalpindi
46000
Pakistan
Puranlane
Zinda Bazaar
Sylhet
3100
Bangladesh
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The name and email address of the investigator/body who should be contacted for access to the datasets: Najma Siddiqi (Chief Investigator) at najma.siddiqi@york.ac.uk. The type of data that will be shared: anonymized participant-level data (baseline [sociodemographic information] and follow-up [primary and secondary outcome] data) Dates of availability: data will be available after the publication of the main results. It will be archived at the York Trials Unit indefinitely. Whether consent from participants was required and obtained: Yes Comments on data anonymization: All personal identifiable information will be removed from the database Any ethical or legal restrictions: not applicable |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 19/05/2025 | 20/05/2025 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | version 1.1 | 09/03/2023 | 10/03/2023 | No | Yes |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- 43310_PIS_V1.1_09Mar23.pdf
- Participant information sheet
Editorial Notes
20/05/2025: Publication reference added.
09/10/2024: Annual National Bioethics Committee Pakistan approval extension references added for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
30/08/2023: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/08/2023 to 30/09/2023.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/08/2025 to 31/12/2025.
08/03/2023: Trial's existence confirmed by the National Bioethics Committee Pakistan, the BADAS-CHRI in Bangladesh and the Health Sciences Research Governance Committee (HSRGC) at the University of York.
