Effectiveness of a CBT Based Mobile Application

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This research aims to explore the effect of a mobile application designed on the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy on college students suffering from depression in terms of their symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and other relevant variables.

Detailed Description
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Background: College students encounter the transition from adolescence to adulthood, thereby possibly facing various factors causing depression. However, instead of consulting a professional, most college students seek help online or through contacts, or internalize their emotions. The current situation could be due to the low efficiency of depression prevention and the limited consultation provided at campus. While many studies have examined adopting mobile applications in dealing with depression, they have not shown consistent results. The cross-sectional research has been the most common; few randomized controlled trials have been conducted. Hence, much empirical evidence is needed to identify the effect of a mobile application. Aim: This research aims to explore the effect of a mobile application designed on the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy on college students suffering from depression in terms of their symptoms, suicidal ideation, and other relevant variables. Methodology: This is a randomized controlled trials study. The participants, aged 20 and above, were recruited from three universities of science and technology of similar nature. All of them suffer from depression symptoms and have used Wi-Fi smartphones. They were randomly assigned to the control group and the treatment group. The treatment group received an intervention involving the participants' use of the mobile application for 12 weeks, at least once a week, 20 minutes per session. The generalized estimating equation was adopted to analyze the results regarding the depression symptoms, suicidal ideation, help-seeking attitudes, emotional self-awareness, and mobile health (mHealth) literacy. Expected outcomes: The results obtained by tracking the symptoms of depression from the empirical research design conducted on campus will provide a reference to understanding to what extent mobile applications could be an appropriate intervention for college students. Clinical application: The research findings could provide insights for policymaking in respect of helping a person with depression on campus to better meet college students' needs.

Official Title
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Effectiveness of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Based Mobile Application in College Students With Depression Symptoms

Conditions
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Depressive Symptoms

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: depression screening test App


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: suffer from depression symptoms. aged 20 and above. being able to communicate in Chinese or Taiwanese. used Wi-Fi smartphones. Agree and obtain written consent. In the school term during research. Exclusion Criteria: Have a full-time job. Who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Asperger syndrome, and schizophrenia. Who have the health conditions associated with visual impairments, auditory impairments, and mobility impairments, that are limited to the use of accessibility mobile applications.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: treatment group<br>The intervention involved the participants' use of the mobile application. | Device: depression screening test App<br>* The participants' use of the depression screening test App of 6 modules for 12 weeks, at least once a week, 20 minutes per once.<br>|
| No Intervention: control group<br>As usual. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline (1st week) in depressive symptoms on the Tung's Depression Inventory for College Students (TDICS) at Week 4, 8,12. | The Tung's Depression Inventory for College Students (TDICS) is validated. It comprised of 32 items in 4-point Likert-type format and can be completed between 5 to 10 minutes. The scores range from 0 (no depressive) to 96 (high depressive symptoms). | Baseline(1st week) and 4th week, 8th week,12th week. | 
| Change from Baseline(1st week) in suicide ideation on Concise Mental Health Checklist (CMHC) at Week 4, 8,12. | The Concise Mental Health Checklist (CMHC) is validated. The scores range from 0 (no suicide ideation) to 9 (high suicide ideation). | Baseline(1st week) and 4th week, 8th week,12th week. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from Baseline(1st week) in emotional self-awareness on Emotional Self-Awareness Scale - Revised (ESAS-R) at Week 4, 8,12. | Emotional Self-Awareness Scale - Revised (ESAS-R) is validated. The scores range from 0 (no emotional self-awareness) to 84 (high emotional self-awareness). | Baseline(1st week) and 4th week, 8th week,12th week. | 
| Change from Baseline(1st week) in help-seeking attitudes on Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Shortened Form (ATSPPH-SF) at Week 4, 8,12. | The Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Shortened Form (ATSPPH-SF) is validated. The scores range from 0 (low help-seeking attitudes) to 30 (positive help-seeking attitudes). | Baseline(1st week) and 4th week, 8th week,12th week. | 
| Change from Baseline(1st week) in mHealth literacy on mHealth literacy of app Scale at Week 4, 8,12. | The mHealth literacy of app Scale is development by YHL researcher. The purpose of the scale was to develop a screening tool for mHealth literacy of app. Only the treatment group needs to fill this instrument. It is comprised of 8 items in 5-point Likert-type format. The scores range from 8 (low mHealth literacy of app) to 40 (high mHealth literacy of app). | Baseline(1st week) and 4th week, 8th week,12th week. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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mobile application, cognitive behavioral therapy, depression symptoms