ADepT+ therapy for complex depression
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN62819149 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN62819149 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 337878 |
| Protocol serial number | CPMS 60120; Grant Code: NIHR304679 |
| Sponsor | University of Exeter |
| Funder | NIHR Academy |
- Submission date
- 22/05/2025
- Registration date
- 27/05/2025
- Last edited
- 17/06/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Some people struggling with depression may also have additional difficulties managing their relationships, emotions and sense of self as adults. These difficulties are sometimes referred to as personality difficulties or diagnosed as a personality disorder. Together, this combination of difficulties is known as ‘complex depression’, which may be linked to difficult early life experiences, or an absence of positive early experiences. Individuals with complex depression may seek help from their GP or their local NHS Talking Therapies (NHS-TT) service in primary care. Because NHS-TT therapists are not routinely trained to help people with complex depression, this can lead to people being seen as too ‘complex’ for these services, and those who are offered care often report not fully benefiting as it is not tailored to their specific needs. In addition, people with complex depression are often not viewed as ‘severe enough’ to access secondary mental health services. When this happens, the person is often discharged into the care of the GP and left with little or no support. The aim of this feasibility study is to inform the design and conduct of a future definitive trial that aims to investigate a psychological therapy designed to address these symptoms. A total of 60 people will be randomly allocated to receive usual care or usual care plus the novel intervention (ADepT+ therapy). They will complete outcome measures at intake, 8-, 14- and 20-month follow-up. Views on the acceptability of the therapy will be collected from participants in terms of numerical ratings of acceptability, written feedback and through interviews.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 18 years and over with complex depression (depression alongside difficulties managing relationships, emotions or sense of self) who are registered with a GP in Devon.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to either receive the ADepT+ therapy, alongside their usual care, or continue with their Usual care alone. All participants will complete questionnaires and an interview with a researcher about their mood, symptoms, and use of health services at 4 points throughout the study: baseline, 8, 14 and 20 months. Participants allocated to receive the therapy will be offered up to 20 weekly therapy sessions followed by up to 5 booster sessions in the following 12 months, and will complete brief questionnaires linked to each therapy session and be asked to share written comments on their experiences of therapy. Some participants who receive the therapy will also be invited to an in-depth interview to discuss their experiences of ADepT+ in more detail.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will be asked to fill in various questionnaires and take part in interviews, which for some people at times temporarily lower their mood. 50% of participants will receive psychological therapy, which is anticipated to improve depression, anxiety and wellbeing.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run from the AccEPT clinic, Mood Disorders Centre, University of Exeter (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2025 to July 2028
Who is funding the study?
This study is funded by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Doctoral Fellowship. This study is supported by the AccEPT clinic, and supported by the Office for Life Sciences and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration Mission, hosted by the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.
Who is the main contact?
Laura Warbrick, l.a.warbrick@exeter.ac.uk
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research
University of Exeter
Queens Drive
Exeter
EX4 4QQ
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-9486-8550 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1392722420 |
| l.a.warbrick@exeter.ac.uk |
Scientific
Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research
University of Exeter
Queens Drive
Exeter
EX4 4QQ
United Kingdom
| ORCID ID |
0000-0002-0299-0920 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1392724680 |
| b.d.dunn@exeter.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomized; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Psychological & Behavioural, Complex Intervention |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Development and feasibility of augmented depression therapy for complex depression (ADepT+): a randomised, controlled feasibility trial |
| Study acronym | ADepT+ |
| Study objectives | The primary aim of this trial is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and trial procedures to inform the design and conduct of a future large trial capable of examining the effectiveness of the intervention. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 16/05/2025, Leicester South REC, Meeting held by video-conference via Zoom; +44 (0)207 104 8193, +44 (0)207 104 8079; leicestersouth.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 25/EM/0080 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Depression |
| Intervention | ADepT+ therapy consists of up to 20 acute 60-minute individual therapy sessions over 8 months, followed by up to 5 optional 60-minute booster sessions offered flexibly in the subsequent 12 months. Therapy will be delivered face-to-face, online or by phone according to patient preference and what is practically possible. The primary goal of ADepT+ is to build wellbeing, viewing depression, anxiety, interpersonal, emotional and identity symptoms as barriers that get in the way of wellbeing. The key adaptations (+) for complex depression from standard ‘ADepT’ therapy include an extended assessment phase, to support the therapeutic relationship and understand how additional difficulties and possible trauma exposure link to current depression, and additional 'change' sessions to integrate additional skills to regulate emotions and manage relationships. 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 individuals dealing with challenges (being resilient) and taking opportunities (thriving) as they work towards these goals are mapped out and then the client is encouraged to learn new adaptive patterns of thinking and behaving. Therapy will be delivered by at least three therapists with an existing training in cognitive behavioural, behavioural or dialectical behavioural therapy and experience of working with people with mood disorders. Therapists will undergo additional ADepT+ specific training as required. Ongoing supervision will be provided for 90 minutes per week in a small group format facilitated by an experienced ADepT+ supervisor/trainer. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
The primary outcomes of this study relate to the primary feasibility and acceptability aims (recruitment rate, data availability, proportion of participants receiving minimum adequate dose of therapy, therapy acceptability ratings, safety of trial and intervention procedures). |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Measured at baseline, 8, 14 and 20 months: |
| Completion date | 31/07/2028 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 years or older 2. Score in the clinical range on the PHQ-9 depression scale (scores >=10) 3. Meet diagnostic criteria for a current major depressive episode using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis 4. Describe depression as the primary presenting problem they prefer therapy to focus on 5. Report difficulties in emotional, interpersonal, identity or impulsivity regulation, consistent with personality difficulties or personality disorder (assessed by scoring >=9 on the PDS-ICD-11 ) 6. Willing and able to give informed consent for participation within the trial 7. Have sufficient written and spoken English to be able to make use of therapy and to be able to complete research assessments without the need of a translator 8. Have completed the intake measures 9. Be registered with a General Practice within the study site catchment area (Devon) who they are willing to be notified of their participation within the trial Therapist participant inclusion: 1. Served as a therapist on the ADepT+ feasibility trial 2. Delivered at least one ADepT+ therapy session to a participant |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Currently receiving psychosocial therapy 2. Current substance dependence according to ICD-11 criteria (as this may interfere with the ability to engage in and use therapy; current substance abuse is not an exclusion criterion) 3. Current/past history of schizophrenia or Bipolar-I diagnosis (Bipolar-II diagnosis not an exclusion criterion) 4. Presents with co-occurring difficulties that cannot be safely managed in a primary care outpatient setting; or that would significantly interfere with engagement in therapy; or are indicated to be the most appropriate primary focus of current treatment (for example, PTSD, complex PTSD, problematic eating, cognitive impairment, learning disability) 5. Current moderate to severe personality disorder and/or antisocial personality traits that require secondary/tertiary care management 6. Displaying marked risk to self (self-harm or suicide) or others, that cannot be safely managed in a primary care outpatient setting 7. Participant anticipates they will be unable to regularly attend therapy sessions within the site area (e.g. planning to move out of the study area, work commitments prevent regular attendance, lengthy period of travel not mitigated by access to online therapy sessions) 8. Currently receiving inpatient mental healthcare No specific therapist participant exclusion criteria. |
| Date of first enrolment | 13/06/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/06/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Queens Drive
Exeter
EX4 4QQ
United Kingdom
Dryden Road
Exeter
EX2 5AF
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from the CI (Laura Warbrick, L.a.warbrick@exeter.ac.uk). Consent will be sought from participants to share anonymised data with other researchers for secondary analyses. Because of the potentially sensitive nature of the data and the potential for participants to be identifiable by their data by some members of the public, the public will not be given unrestricted access to the data. In accordance with good practice and institutional policy, the research database will be registered with the University of Exeter's public access database. The dataset will be anonymous and will be registered with a metadata-only record, allowing the research team to control access to the dataset, restricting it to appropriately qualified third parties for justified and ethically approved research. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
17/06/2025: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/06/2025 to 13/06/2025. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/07/2026 to 30/06/2026. Devon Partnership NHS Trust was added to the study participating centres.
22/05/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the NIHR.
