Electronic Media and Its Application in Psychotherapy

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Electronic Media

Treatments: Behavioral: Treatment as Usual; Behavioral: Electronic Media Enhanced

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03712267

2018P002179

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized control trial aims to establish whether viewing and discussing patients' electronic communication (texts, emails, Facebook direct messaging, etc) impacts clinical care and decision making across the lifespan.

Full description

This study explores the usefulness and effectiveness of including electronic communication as part of standard clinical care. Participants will provide information and content from their electronic media to research assistants during in person interviews if they are in the intervention group. Research assistants will then give clinicians the information collected, so the clinicians can incorporate the data into the session as they see fit. Therapists will retain full clinical discretion of how they continue to conduct their therapy sessions. The investigators will compare the impact of receiving this electronic enhancement intervention versus only receiving treatment as usual care on mental health related functioning and therapeutic alliance.

Enrollment: 110 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Are currently receiving psychotherapy at McLean and have had at least 4 visits with their current therapy provider in outpatient clinics or 2 sessions with their therapy provider in partial hospitalization or residential settings
2. Age 18-85, and fluent in English
3. Have a primary diagnosis of anxiety or depression (as determined by self-report and review of medical records, which should list a primary depression or anxiety spectrum diagnosis). Symptomatology can be active or in remission.
4. Are actively using at least 1 platform for text messaging (i.e. they should have an account on each platform and have produced content within the month prior to beginning the study). This will be based on self report.
5. Use a mobile device for text messaging
6. Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Probable or diagnosed dementia or cognitive impairment, or neurodevelopmental disorder (such as an autism spectrum disorder) based on self report and review of medical records.

   - Individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) may be eligible provided symptoms have been stable for at least 6 months.

2. Active psychotic symptoms

   - History of psychosis is allowable only if the patient has not had symptoms for at least a year

3. Are actively receiving ECT treatment

4. Current alcohol or drug abuse problem (based on self report and review of medical records)

   - History of substance use is fine, provided there has been no relapse or withdrawal symptoms in the month leading up to enrollment

5. Are involuntarily admitted to McLean Hospital

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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110 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Electronic Media Enhanced

Experimental group

Description:

Research assistants will collect information on participants' electronic messaging behavior and content and provide that for use to participants' clinicians.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Electronic Media Enhanced

Treatment As Usual

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants will not have their electronic messaging reviewed prior to their typically scheduled clinical appointments.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Treatment as Usual