Primary Care Patients With Depression for Internet-Based Social Support (Psychobabble)
Depressive Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Depressive Disorder focused on measuring Depressive disorder, Primary care, Internet, Social support, Feasibility
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- PHQ score of 8 or above with either depressed mood or anhedonia/and or is considering treatment for depressed mood,
- does not reject all treatment for depression,
- has not viewed or posted messages more than once in the last month on any Internet depression support group website,
- does not self-report diagnoses of bipolar disorder by a health professional,
- age 18 years or older,
- attends a primary care clinic and have visited in last 6 months, AND
- has Internet access for the next four weeks, has been on the Internet at least three times, and has used email by him/herself. We are slightly lowering the PHQ score from the usual 10 (cutoff for major depression) to 8 because we know treatment for depression is frequently initiated for those who do not meet formal criteria for major depression. However we are only including patients with PHQ scores below the usual cutoff for major depression if they are currently receiving or are considering some form of depression treatment. University of Chicago students will need to identify their primary care provider to be enrolled in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- active bipolar disorder,
- those with no access to the internet,
- those who state they are not under treatment nor would they consider any form of treatment, OR
- those considered to be at high risk of suicide attempts. These include those with past psychiatric hospitalization, past suicide attempts, bipolar disorder or score of greater than 1 on the PHQ-9 suicide assessment or who reports intent for self-harm as per assessment in the suicide prevention protocol.
Sites / Locations
- University of Chicago Physician's Group - PCG Maryland Avenue
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
Simple Card
Patient Centered Brochure
Physicians endorsement
Participants will receive a simple 3"x5" card with the name of the website and the following description. "www.psychobabble.com (or new name). A website to help individuals with depression recover."
Participants will receive an 8"x11" handout that provides a more complete description of the depression website. The handout will be based on a patient perspective with samples of Internet postings from users. This card will emphasize peer-to-peer support and not mention health care organizations or health care provider endorsements. The information will address potential barriers to use: user will not be identified, posting will not take that much time, information from peers can be checked for accuracy with other peers and providers, and helping patient learn how to tell their usual health care providers about their activities on the Internet site. Participants will be asked to provide their email so a reminder about the Internet depression site can be emailed to them at 1 week and 2 weeks. They will still be part of the study even if they will not provide their email.
Participants will include the same card in experimental group 2 with the addition of a personal endorsement by the patient's health care provider in the form of a standardized letter signed by the physician. Participants will be asked to provide their email so a reminder about the Internet depression site can be emailed to them at 1 week and 2 weeks.