Effectiveness of an Online Bulletin Board for Depression: a Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study is a randomised controlled trial that aims to examine the efficacy of an established online bulletin board for depression. It has been estimated that millions of people worldwide use peer-to-peer bulletin boards, forums or internet support groups (ISGs) for health conditions. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these groups in terms of symptom reduction or improvement in quality of life. The current project investigates the effectiveness of an established online bulletin board for depression available to the public. To our knowledge, this is the first randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of a pre-existing, well-established online bulletin board for depression in the community. The aims of the project are to determine whether the bulletin board improves mental health, quality of life, and related outcomes among members of the community with high levels of self-reported psychological distress and previous history or current experience of depression.

Official Title
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Bulletin Board for Depression

Conditions
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Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: bulletin board


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Over 18 years of age Internet access with email Self-report of current or previous experience of depression Exclusion Criteria: Current participation in an online support group for depression Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis

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

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Bulletin board<br>Participants will be given access to the online bulletin board (intervention) for a 6 month period | Other: bulletin board<br>* An asynchronous online bulletin board for people with experience of depression<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>After 6 months participants allocated to the control group will receive access to the intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depressive symptoms: Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D) | 20-item self -report measure of depression severity | Baseline | 
| Depressive symptoms: Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D) | 20-item self -report measure of depression severity | 6 months post-baseline | 
| Depressive symptoms: Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D) | 20-item self -report measure of depression severity | 12 months post-baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Depression, mental health, wellbeing, online bulletin board, online support group