Pilot Study Comparing Two Versions of Group Cognitive-behavioral Indicated Prevention Programs

Oregon Research Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depressive Symptoms

Treatments: Behavioral: Group-based therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04111887

Change Ahead

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two depression prevention programs and a control brochure for college students. Participants may experience reductions in depressive symptoms and prevention of future depression.

Enrollment: 91 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 28 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• current student at the University of Oregon
• subthreshold symptoms of depression, as indicated by a CES-D depression screener score of 20 or greater

Exclusion criteria

• current diagnosis of major depression
• acute suicidal ideation requiring immediate mental health treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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91 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Change Ahead

Experimental group

Description:

Each of the 6 weekly 1-hour sessions begins with a voluntary commitment to actively participate and to try something new in the upcoming week; includes a section devoted to selecting and publicly committing to one change focused on reducing negative/increasing positive cognitions and one change focused on increasing pleasant activities; and ends with home practice assignments. Additional exercises designed to increase dissonance induction include (a) group discussions for changing conditions, (b) roleplays to generate quick comebacks to written negative thoughts provided by other group members, (c) in-session writing exercises on the benefits of doing fun activities, (d) discussion of methods for creating internal and external accountability for positive change, (e) home practice assignment of engaging in actions to help someone else' mood, (f) writing a letter to my future self about positive intentions, and (g) providing positive feedback to other group members at the last session.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group-based therapy

Blues Program

Active Comparator group

Description:

The 6 weekly 1-hour sessions begin with a review of concepts and (after Session 1) review of past home practice assignments; all sessions conclude with home practice assignments. Each session has a portion devoted to thought identification/recording and cognitive restructuring and a portion devoted to increased involvement in pleasant activities. We use motivational enhancement exercises to maximize willingness to use the new skills, behavioral techniques to reinforce use of the new skills, and group activities to foster feelings of group cohesion.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group-based therapy

Brochure control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

NIMH brochure that describes major depression and recommends treatment for depressed youth ("Let's Talk About Depression" NIH Pub. 01-4162), as well as information about local treatment options.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group-based therapy