Text Message Based Maintenance Intervention

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study presents findings from a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of text messages encouraging short emotion regulation exercises on the course of psychopathological symptoms after inpatient treatment for depression. In this context, the study also compares the effectiveness of standardized versus personalized text messages.

Detailed Description
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Introduction: The importance of aftercare and maintenance intervention to reduce psychopathology, prevent relapses and stabilize the effects of inpatient cognitive behavioral therapy is well proven. In order to attain a high reachability rate among the patients, simple, quick and low cost methods should be used. Modern communication technologies, such as mobile phones provide this opportunity. Therefore, the current study explores how modern communication technologies can be used as a support system in psychotherapy to realize a reduced psychopathology. Methods: A total of 150 patients participated in a transdiagnostical 6-weeks text messaging maintenance intervention. The text messages were based on emotion regulation skills. The effectiveness of different variants of the text messages was studied in a randomized controlled trial, comparing the impact on the patient's psychopathological outcome to receiving personalized text messages versus standardized text messages.

Official Title
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Evaluation of a Transdiagnostic Text Message Based Maintenance Intervention After Inpatient Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Conditions
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Mental Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: standardized text messages
* Behavioral: Personalized text messages
* Behavioral: Standardized text messages after 10 weeks


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: good knowledge of the german language owning a mobile phone Exclusion Criteria: brain damage personality disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 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: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: EG stand<br>Standardized text messages | Behavioral: standardized text messages<br>* Messages consist of relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises as well as emotion regulation strategies<br>|
| Experimental: EG ind<br>Personalized text messages | Behavioral: Personalized text messages<br>* Patients write their own messages<br>|
| Other: Control<br>Standardized text messages after 10 weeks | Behavioral: Standardized text messages after 10 weeks<br>* Messages consist of relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises as well as emotion regulation strategies which are send to the patients 10 weeks after completing inpatient therapy<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depressive Symptom load | Measurement of depressive symptom severity with Beck Depression Inventory | 6 weeks post treatment (after intervention) | 
| Emotion Regulation Competence | Emotion Regulation Competence measured by SERSA | 6 weeks post treatment (after intervention) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychopathological symptomatology | Measurement of psychopathological symptomatology with self report questionnaires | 10 weeks Follow-Up | 
| Depressive Symptom load | Measurement of depressive symptom severity with Beck Depression Inventory | 10 weeks Follow-Up | 
| Emotion Regulation Competence | Emotion Regulation Competence measured by SERSA | 10 weeks follow up | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Maintenance intervention, Text messages, Emotion Regulation