Psychotherapy for Young Adults With Mild-to-moderate Depression: Does Virtual Reality Increase Its...
DepressionCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most prestigious psychological treatment for depression. However, not only do we need to increase its efficacy but also to widen the repertoire of evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions. The importance of the patient's engagement in treatment is highlighted in the literature as a key factor for a good therapeutic outcome over and above the type of therapy. In this sense, personal construct therapy (PCT), with some promising supporting evidence, is particularly suited to fit the personal values and attitudes of each patient. In contrast to CBT, PCT does not educate patients about depression and give them directions on the changes to be made in their dysfunctional behaviors or cognitions. Rather, PCT explores their coherence with respect to the person's sense of identity, their construction of self and others, and works with the conflicts or dilemmas that appear during this conjoint exploration using the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT). In this project, for the first time, the RGT will be implemented using Virtual Reality (VR). This format could be highly appealing for young people, thus facilitating their involvement in therapy. The efficacy of this innovative application of PCT using VR (PCT-VR) will be compared to usual PCT, and to CBT in a randomized clinical trial. The Beck Depression Inventory-II is the primary outcome measure for calculating both statistical and clinical significance, but other measures will also be used at pre-, post-therapy and six-month follow up. The trial will be done in a natural health context, mostly the usual primary care center of each patient, with those who consult during the active period of the study. Our research group has been working on both depression and personal construct theory for more than two decades (this includes our previous funded projects), particularly with a dilemma-focused intervention aimed to resolve the cognitive conflicts detected with the RGT. By fostering a technological innovation with VR, it is expected to boost the current efficacy of psychotherapy by increasing the engagement of young people and obtaining better outcomes. If these goals are met, a pathological evolution of the patient with its associated personal, health and social costs could be avoided.
Transdiagnostic Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Autistic Adolescents
AnxietyDepression2 moreThis study tests the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic youth with anxiety and/or depression.
Internet Delivered Psychotherapy for Older Adults
Depression in Old AgeDepression1 moreThe goal of this mixed-methods, single-arm intervention study is to develop and evaluate a new internet-delivered psychotherapy option called Ger-iPST in older adults with symptoms of depression. The overall aim of this project is to improve access to psychotherapy for older adults by developing, adapting and implementing a new internet-based treatment option, Ger-iPST. Towards this aim, our objectives are to: Examine the preliminary effectiveness of Ger-iPST for symptoms of depression. Examine barriers and facilitators to the use of Ger-iPST. Participants will be asked to complete 8 weekly online therapy modules (Ger-iPST) through the Online Psycho Therapy Tool (OPTT); each module takes 45-60 minutes, and an extra 20-30 on weekly homework. Caregivers will be invited to assist participants if required. Homework exercises are submitted through the platform, and a clinician trained in PST l will provide personalized, asynchronous online feedback. Participants will receive a weekly phone call from a research assistant to support any technical issues with completing the online modules. Following completion of the Ger-iPST modules, participants will be interviewed to provide feedback on acceptability and barriers and facilitators to the use of Ger-iPST.
Incorporating Ecological Momentary Assessment and Personalized Telephone Support Into Group-Based...
DepressionThe objective of this proposed pilot randomized controlled trial is to examine the efficacy and acceptability of using smartphone-delivered ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and personalized telephone support to promote adherence to a 6-week group-based exercise intervention for improving depressive symptoms. Prior to all study procedures, eligible participants are required to complete an online informed consent via an in-house smartphone application, Longitudinax Pro. Around 60 eligible participants aged 18-65 years old with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) total score ≥10 (Kroenke et al., 2001) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) total score <600 MET/week (Lai et al., 2018; Macfarlane et al., 2007) will be randomly assigned to either 1) group-based exercise intervention with EMA and personalized telephone support (SUP), 2) group-based exercise intervention (EXE), or no intervention control group (CON) in a ratio of 1:1:1. The randomization will be performed by an independent assessor using a computer-generated list of numbers. The SUP and EXE groups will participate in a 6-week group-based exercise intervention. The intervention includes three biweekly group-based exercise sessions lasting for 120 minutes each (i.e., Week 1, 3, and 5). In addition, participants in the SUP will receive daily smartphone-delivered EMAs throughout the intervention period (i.e., 6-week) and 15-minute personalized telephone support delivered by a research personnel in Week 2, 4, and 6, respectively. Participants in the CON group will not be given any intervention during the study period but will be advised to remain their typical lifestyle throughout the trial period. The primary outcome of interest include depressive symptoms as measured by PHQ-9. The secondary outcomes will include anxiety symptoms, perceived insomnia severity, quality of life, functional impairment, and intervention evaluation at immediate post-intervention (Week 7) and 3-month follow-up assessments (Week 19).
Parenting Skills Group for Mothers With Postpartum Depression
Postpartum DepressionThe goal of this longitudinal study is to study the effects of a parenting skills group (Circle of Security Parenting, aka COSP) in mothers with postpartum depression. The main questions it aims to answer are: Will changes in methylation of the OXTR rs53576 be apparent in mother and/or infant after having gone through the 8-week COSP program? Will COSP participation be associated with improved symptoms of postpartum depression (over and above standard care), attachment style, and relational characteristics of the mother-infant dyad? Will COSP participation be associated with changes in social behavior in the infant, and if so, do they persist throughout childhood? Participants will Participate in an 8-week COSP program delivered remotely via Zoom. Provide buccal swabs (mother and infant) to assess changes in methylation of OXTR rs53576 pre- versus post-intervention. Complete a series of assessment questionnaires delivered remotely. Videotape a play-based assessment in their home. Receive infant developmental testing Researchers will compare characteristics of waitlist controls to those participating in the COSP program at the mid-way point of the program to see if the two groups differ.
Stepping Together for Children After Trauma, Norway
PTSDSleep Disorder2 moreThe goal of this randomized controlled trial is to learn about how to effectively help children (aged 7-12) who have developed moderate symptoms of posttraumatic stress after exposure to trauma, and prevent development of more severe problems. The main research questions are: Will the parent-led, therapist assisted treatment "Stepping Together for Children after Trauma" (ST-CT) be more effective, compared to usual care, in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression and sleep disorders, and in improving daily functioning for children and their parents after trauma? Is ST-CT implemented to the municipal first-line services cost-effective? Will ST-CT prevent use of health care services and prescribed drugs in the long term? The children and their non-offending caregivers will be randomized to receive treatment with ST-CT or usual care, and symptoms and general functioning will be assessed at five time-points.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Theta Burst (TMS), Depression and Smoking.
Major Depressive DisorderSmoking ReductionThis study evaluates de efficacy of Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) applied on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in patients with Major Depressive disorder and tobacco consumption.
Shugan Jieyu Capsule for Insomnia Patients With Depressive Symptoms
InsomniaThis study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study. 60 cases of insomnia patients with depressive symptoms are planned to be treated, and they are randomly assigned to the experimental group (Shugan Jieyu Capsule combined with zolpidem group) and the control group (placebo combined with zolpidem group) in equal proportion. Both groups are given zolpidem orally for basic treatment, with the treatment dose of 10mg per tablet per day, one tablet per time, once a day, before sleep, for 8 consecutive weeks. The test group was given Shugan Jieyu Capsule orally, with a therapeutic dose of 0.36g per capsule, 2 capsules each time, twice a day, and once after breakfast and dinner. The control group was given placebo orally, with a treatment dose of 0.36g per capsule, 2 capsules each time, twice a day, and once after breakfast and dinner. The therapeutic effect of Shugan Jieyu Capsule on insomnia patients with depressive symptoms was observed by analyzing the changes of ISI scores, subjective and objective sleep indicators (PSG, sleep diary), daytime cognitive function, autonomic nervous function and EEG after the intervention in the fourth and eighth weeks.
LIVES: Personalized Lifestyle Intervention for Patients With Depression
Cardiovascular RiskDepression3 morePersons with affective disorder have a considerably increased risk of cardiovascular disease. To a considerable extent, this is due to an unhealthy life style. At present, no adequate lifestyle interventions are available for these patients. In the present pilot intervention study we study the acceptability and feasibility of a newly developed lifestyle intervention that is specifically tailored to the needs of patients with affective disorders treated in mental health care or general practice.
Board Game Project for Adolescents With Tourette Syndrome
Tourette Syndrome in AdolescenceDepression2 moreThe purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of using an evidence-based board game scheme to improve the tics and interpersonal interactions of adolescents with Tourette syndrome.