Self-help Lifestyle Medicine for Depression and Anxiety

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Depression, Anxiety

Treatments

Behavioral: Lifestyle Medicine

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04152850

PSY009

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will examine the effects of smartphone-based lifestyle medicine (LM) for alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms in Chinese population. Since a range of lifestyle factors are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of depression and anxiety, modifying different lifestyle factors simultaneously, for example, diet, exercise, stress and sleep which are empirically supported by previous reviews, may be effective to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine concepts will be integrated into the app to increase the acceptability towards mental health treatment. Through this study, we aim to promote evidence-based patient care and to improve help-seeking and access to evidence-based interventions for depression and anxiety.

Full description

This study will be a randomized controlled trial on the effects of a culturally adapted self-help smartphone-based lifestyle medicine for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in Chinese population. Prior to all study procedures, eligible participants will be required to complete an online informed consent (with telephone support). With an estimation of 30% withdrawal, around 124 eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either smartphone-based lifestyle medicine (LM group) or the waitlist control group (WL group) in a ratio of 1:1.

Enrollment

124 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Hong Kong residents
Aged ≥ 18 years
Have a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10 or Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) ≥ 8
Able to read Chinese and type in Chinese or English
Have an Internet-enabled mobile device (iOS or Android operating system)
Are willing to provide informed consent and comply with the trial protocol

Exclusion criteria

Current involvement in psychotherapy or unstable medication for depression and/or anxiety
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) Item 9 score of at least 2 indicating a current moderate suicidal risk that requires active crisis management (referral information to professional services will be provided to those with serious suicidal risk)
Are having unsafe conditions and are not recommended for physical activity or a change in diet by physicians
Having major psychiatric, medical or neurocognitive disorders that make participation infeasible or interfere with the adherence to the lifestyle modification