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Online Support Groups for Depression and Anxiety

Primary Purpose

Depression, Anxiety

Status
Unknown status
Phase
Phase 1
Locations
United Kingdom
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Online support group
Expressive writing
Sponsored by
University College, London
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Depression

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Self-defined depression & anxiety
  • Resident in the UK, US or Canada
  • Access to the internet

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Sites / Locations

  • University College London

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Online support group

Expressive writing

Arm Description

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale

Secondary Outcome Measures

Satisfaction with Life Scale
The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment
The Illness perception questionnaire

Full Information

First Posted
June 22, 2010
Last Updated
July 20, 2010
Sponsor
University College, London
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT01149265
Brief Title
Online Support Groups for Depression and Anxiety
Official Title
Randomised Controlled Trial of an Existing Online Support Group for Depression and Anxiety
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
July 2010
Overall Recruitment Status
Unknown status
Study Start Date
May 2010 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
February 2011 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
February 2011 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Name of the Sponsor
University College, London

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of online support groups for anxiety and depression.
Detailed Description
In recent years the number of online support groups for conditions like depression and anxiety has grown rapidly. Millions of people are thought to be using them around the world. This research aims to help find out whether the use of online support groups is beneficial and to learn more about what happens in these groups. This research will compare online support groups with expressive writing. Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time. In online support groups giving and receiving support from others can be helpful while expressive writing about emotional issues can be cathartic. 1,000 participants will be recruited online from the UK, USA and Canada and randomly assigned to either an existing online support group or to an expressive writing condition.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Depression, Anxiety

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 1, Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
1000 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Online support group
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Title
Expressive writing
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Online support group
Intervention Description
Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Expressive writing
Intervention Description
Online support groups are internet forums where like-minded people give and receive both informational and emotional support.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale
Time Frame
Zero, three and six months
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Satisfaction with Life Scale
Time Frame
Zero, three and six months
Title
The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey
Time Frame
Zero, three and six months
Title
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment
Time Frame
Zero, three and six months
Title
The Illness perception questionnaire
Time Frame
Zero, three and six months

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Self-defined depression & anxiety Resident in the UK, US or Canada Access to the internet Exclusion Criteria: -
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Chris Barker
Organizational Affiliation
University College, London
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
University College London
City
London
ZIP/Postal Code
WC1E 6BT
Country
United Kingdom

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
27189142
Citation
Dean J, Potts HW, Barker C. Direction to an Internet Support Group Compared With Online Expressive Writing for People With Depression And Anxiety: A Randomized Trial. JMIR Ment Health. 2016 May 17;3(2):e12. doi: 10.2196/mental.5133.
Results Reference
derived

Learn more about this trial

Online Support Groups for Depression and Anxiety

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