Efficacy of a Mobile Phone App for Depression and Anxiety in College Students (VamosJuntxs)

University of Chile

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Depressive Symptoms; Anxiety Symptoms

Treatments: Device: VamosJuntxs App; Other: Web Conciencia Saludable

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06628830

Fondecyt 1221230

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile phone application for the early intervention of depression and anxiety among young university students in Chile. The main question it aims to answer is:

• Can a mobile app reduce depressive and anxious symptomatology in college students?

Researchers will compare the intervention arm (mobile app users) to the control group (receives psychoeducational material and mental health care resources) to see if the app leads to significant improvements in depressive and anxious symptoms and well-being.

Participants will:

• Be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group.
• Use the mobile application, which includes psychoeducational materials, cognitive-behavioral therapy modules, and periodic personalized feedback.
• Complete assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 and 6 months after randomization using online tools such as the PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms and the GAD-7 for anxious symptoms.

Enrollment: 200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 29 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• PHQ-9 and GAD-7 score between 5 and 14 points
• Have a stable internet connection
• To provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• High risk of suicide according to C-SSRS
• Currently undergoing psychological, psychiatric and/or psychopharmacological treatment
• Bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder or substance use disorder assessed with the respective modules of the MINI interview.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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200 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention consists of an indicated prevention program delivered through a mobile app. The program will last 6 weeks and includes the following: 1. Psychoeducation on depression and anxiety 2. CBT skills training 3. mood and symptom monitoring and feedback: mood tracker and the application every two weeks of the PHQ-4 and question 9 of the PHQ-9 4. Chat with a psychologist (on demand) 5. Optional modules on other related mental health topics (e.g. healthy habits, relaxation, mindfulness) Additionally, participants will be able to access additional help resources that include a speed dial button for a suicide prevention hotline and a web link to access contact information for mental health services. Finally, the intervention protocol also includes the eventual referral to face-to-face mental health care if required.

Treatment:

Device: VamosJuntxs App

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the enhanced control group will receive a web link (https://concienciasaludable.uchile.cl/) with information about places to go to seek mental health care both inside and outside the respective university and psychoeducational material on depression and anxiety

Treatment:

Other: Web Conciencia Saludable