
Augmented Human Intelligence in Major Depressive Disorder
DepressionMajor Depressive DisorderResearchers are testing whether a computer program (called a clinical decision support tool) can help clinicians predict how a patient with depression will respond to antidepressant medication.

Telephone-Based Intervention to Treat Depression and Anxiety in Hispanic Cancer Survivors
SurvivorshipCancer2 moreThe purpose of this research is to assess the feasibility of administering a telephone-based intervention to treat depression and anxiety in Hispanic cancer survivors.

Computer Presented and Physical Exercises to Maintain Cognitive Function and Emotional Health in...
Cognitive FunctionDepression in Old AgeThe aim of this study is to investigate and compare how 18-weeks of computer-based brain training and physical exercise together can improve physical performance, cognitive function and mood in older adults in a cross-over design with participants randomized to receive the intervention first and then be assessed before and after an 18 week period without intervention, or the reverse sequence.

European platforM to PromOte Wellbeing and HEalth in the Workplace (EMPOWER)
StressAnxiety2 moreEMPOWER is a multidisciplinary research and innovation effort aiming to developing, implementing, evaluating and disseminating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a modular eHealth intervention platform to promote health and well-being, reduce psychological distress, prevent common mental health problems and reduce their impact in the workplace. In collaboration with stakeholders, we will adapt existing effective interventions focused on different components (awareness and stigma, workplace conditions and psychosocial factors, stress, common mental health symptoms, early detection, comorbidity, lifestyle, and return to work) to created a combined online modular platform feasible in various workplace settings by culturally and contextually adapting it. The intervention will be implemented through a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial directed to employees and employers of small and medium sized enterprises and public agencies from three European countries (Spain, Finland and Poland) and United Kingdom. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used in the evaluation of the individual health outcomes, cost-effectiveness (from a social, economical, employer and employees perspective), and implementation facilitators and barriers. Implementation strategies relevant to the uptake of the EMPOWER intervention will be identified, including a realistic appraisal of barriers to uptake as well as evidence-based solutions to these barriers. Through scaling-up pre-existing effective and cost-effective interventions, EMPOWER is aimed at addressing the overarching challenges from different perspectives, including individual level (e.g., addressing stigma, mental health, well-being and lifestyles, taking into account legal, cultural and gender issues) and organizational level. The main outcomes effort will help employees, employers and policymakers in decision processes of new legal and contractual framework at EU and national level covering the new economy landscape.

Smartwatch-supported Internet-delivered Intervention for Depression
DepressionThe current study seeks to investigate the acceptance of the use of a smartwatch in an internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based intervention for depression.

A Trauma-Informed Approach for Positive Youth Development for Montana Students
DepressionAnxiety2 moreGiven the prevalence of suicide and mental health issues in rural Montana, this project is intended to help mitigate stressors that may contribute to poor behavioral and mental health in high school-aged children. The immediate goal is to determine viability of a partnership with a rural southwestern Montana school and test the feasibility of a piloted implementation of a trauma-informed yoga intervention to address behavioral health outcomes and positive youth development.

Digital Assessment of Well-being in New Parents
Postnatal DepressionThe mental health of new parents around the time of the birth of their baby has been identified as a key priority in the NHS (National Health Service) Long Term plan. At present, there is no nationally implemented method for monitoring parents' mental health, although the use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has been recommended. This is a paper based questionnaire administered by health visitors in the postnatal period. For the purposes of this project, the investigators contacted health visitors in Manchester to find out how they use EPDS in practice. Currently, health visitors only use the questionnaire if they feel there is a need during visits, and the questionnaire is not kept (only the overall score). Since almost 20% of mums develop postnatal depression, more systematic and thorough screening is needed. The investigators developed an app version of the EPDS which takes less than 2 minutes to complete on a smartphone. It is anticpated that this will be a more accessible and practical method of conducting this important assessment. This project is a feasibility study to find out whether an app would be a feasible, acceptable, valid and safe way to monitor perinatal mental health in women and their partners. The investigators aim to recruit 20 women and their partners in late pregnancy (after 36 weeks gestation) and ask them to use the app. The app will prompt completion of the EPDS once per day until 6 weeks postnatally. Participants' responses on the app will be transferred to a secure server at the University of Manchester. Participants will be invited to complete a paper version of the EPDS at the beginning and end of the study to check validity. They will also be asked to complete a questionnaire measuring the acceptability of the app and to take part in a brief qualitative interview at the end of the study.

Management of Depression and Anxiety in HF
Heart FailureDepression1 moreHeart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by inability of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood. Heart failure affects patients' ability to carry out even simple activities of daily living and therefore has negative psychological impact. Many studies reported that depression is prevalent among HF patients and it is being associated with high morbidity, mortality and costs. The European Society of Cardiology guidelines stresses the importance of routine depression screening with a validated questionnaire and initiating treatment for depression for all depressed HF patients and their access to psychological treatment. The community heart failure nurses provide the integrated heart failure service in the local area of Southwark and Lambeth in South London. The aim of the integrated heart failure team in the community is to provide the HF treatment effectively, help patients understand and manage their symptoms and support with lifestyle changes. Even though, the community HF nurses have extensive role in managing HF patients in the community, their role in assessing anxiety and depression; and providing psychological treatment needs to be further explored. Therefore, there is a need to assess the process by which community HF nurses assess and manage anxiety and depression. This current study builds on our recent systematic review which illustrated how cognitive behaviour therapy is effective at improving depressive symptoms in HF, but more studies are needed to build on these findings. The findings from this review will be used to examine the perspectives on assessing, managing and treating depression and anxiety in HF patients. In this current study, an online focus group with community heart failure nurses and qualitative telephone/online interviews with community-based HF patients will be undertaken to explore their views and experiences in managing depression and anxiety; and to assess whether COMPASS a web-based intervention would be useful. Also, this study will explore the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological wellbeing of community-based HF patients.

Massed and Spaced HMP App Dosage Study
DepressionAnxiety2 moreThis study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 2 weeks of the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) app Connection module in undergraduate students of a large, midwestern state university in the United States during the spring of 2021. Participants will be recruited via email and/or flyers and will first complete an online screen. Eligible participants will complete baseline measures prior to attending an introductory session via web conferencing. During this session, participants will be randomly assigned to condition. Participants in both conditions will be asked to use the HMP app for 20 minutes per either, either split over two 10-minute session (Spaced condition) or in one 20-minute session (Massed condition). Participants will complete daily survey measures during the study and post-test measures after 2 weeks of intervention. This study is primarily designed to assess feasibility and acceptability of 2 weeks of Connection training and assignment to dosage condition. Study team will investigate self-reported informal practice on the daily diary measure, measures of psychological distress (composite of depression, anxiety) and loneliness.

An Online Self-help Intervention for Prevention of Depression in Primary Care
DepressionDepression is a common condition and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Preventing or delaying the onset of depression is an important way to reduce the burden of depression. Some research suggests online methods may be effective in preventing depression, but to date, few studies have looked at the application of these methods in the UK. This study aims to assess the effects of an online self-help intervention (Moodbuster) on preventing depression in a primary care population, who are experiencing mild-moderate symptoms of depression, but do not meet the threshold for diagnosis. A randomised control design with a six-month and nine-month follow up will be used to compare Moodbuster to a wait-listed control group. Then, a qualitative process evaluation will be used to understand the barriers and facilitators of implementing the intervention. Eligible participants in Greater Manchester (individuals with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, who do not have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and have access to the internet) will take part in a 6-week online self-help programme, accompanied by three telephone calls with a trained researcher to support them in their use of the programme. Researchers will follow-up with participants six and nine months after starting the programme to measure depression, anxiety, quality of life, and use of services. The process evaluation will involve qualitative interviews with participants and focus groups with practitioners who referred individuals to the study. This study will assess the effects of Moodbuster on preventing depression and barriers and facilitators of implementing such an intervention in a UK primary care population. It is hypothesised that the intervention group will display reduced depression symptoms and incidence, reduced service use, and improved quality of life, and the intervention will be acceptable to a UK primary care population.