Online Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Program for Hong Kong People With Depression

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to develop a culturally and linguistically appropriate online cognitive behavioral intervention program-- with therapist guidance -- for Hong Kong Chinese adults suffering from major depressive disorder with mild to moderate depressive symptoms, and examine the effectiveness of this program in reducing their depressive symptoms and improving their mental health. The 3- and 6-month maintenance effect after 3 months and 6 months will also be tested.

Detailed Description
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Previous studies have demonstrated that online cognitive behavioral therapy can significantly reduce depressive symptoms and improve mental health for people with depression. This project will develop an online cognitive behavioral intervention program (including both an online platform and a smartphone application) for Hong Kong people with depression. Blended mode will be delivered service, which include 8-week online program, 2 face-to-face sessions and 2 telephone follow-ups by a clinical psychologist. The program will be evaluated in its effectiveness in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms, psychological distress, negative thoughts and negative emotions and increasing positive thoughts and positive emotions.

Official Title
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Development of an Online Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Program to Reduce Depressive Symptoms for Hong Kong People With Depression

Conditions
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Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Confront and Navigate Depression Online (CANDO)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Hong Kong resident Has mild to moderate depressive symptoms No suicidal risk in the past 3 months Receive no face-to-face counselling since program commencement Has access to a computer/smartphone with internet access Has a valid email address Exclusion criteria: Has severe or no depressive symptoms Has suicidal risk in the past 3 months Currently receiving other psychological treatment Suffer from severe psychiatric conditions, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia Has no computer or smartphone with internet access Has no valid email address

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: randomized controlled trial
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: web-based cognitive behavioral intervention<br>The web-based program is consisted of 8 online modules, forum, internal messaging, reminder, online assessment and online booking. Each online module contains mood check, animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration videos, session review and exercise. Blended mode is adopted to deliver service, which includes the online program, two face-to-face session and 2 telephone follow-ups with a clinical psychologist. | Other: Confront and Navigate Depression Online (CANDO)<br>* This study adopts a blended mode of service delivery, which included both online and offline intervention. The online intervention includes 8 weekly online model, animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration video, exercise, forum, internal messaging, reminder, online assessment, session review and online booking system. The offline intervention includes two face-to-face sessions and two telephone follow-ups.<br>|
| Experimental: app-based cognitive behavioral intervention<br>App-based cognitive behavioral intervention program The App-based program is consisted of 8 online modules, forum, internal messaging, reminder, online assessment and online booking. Each online module contains mood check, animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration videos, session review and exercise. Blended mode is adopted to deliver service, which includes the online program, two face-to-face session and 2 telephone follow-ups with a clinical psychologist | Other: Confront and Navigate Depression Online (CANDO)<br>* This study adopts a blended mode of service delivery, which included both online and offline intervention. The online intervention includes 8 weekly online model, animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration video, exercise, forum, internal messaging, reminder, online assessment, session review and online booking system. The offline intervention includes two face-to-face sessions and two telephone follow-ups.<br>|
| No Intervention: Wait-list control group<br>No intervention will be provided when the experimental group is receiving services, but the access to the app-based program will be delivered to the wait-list control group after the two experimental groups complete the service. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) | 21-item rating scale for depressive symptoms | 6 months | 
| Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) | 9-item rating scale for depressive symptoms. | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) | 12 item rating scale for psychological distress. | 6 months | 
| Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) | 21-item rating scale for symptoms of anxiety. | 6 months | 
| Chinese Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (CATQ) | 20-item rating scale for automatic thoughts. | 6 months | 
| Chinese Affect Scale (CAS) | 20-item rating scale for positive and negative emotions of Chinese-speaking people. | 6 months | 
| Negative effects Questionnaire (NEQ) (administered at post-test only) | 20-item rating scale for negative effects caused by psychological treatment | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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online cognitive behavioral intervention, Hong Kong Chinese, depression