Text Message Based Maintenance Intervention

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Mental Disorders
• Interventions: Behavioral: Personalized text messages; Behavioral: standardized text messages; Behavioral: Standardized text messages after 10 weeks

• Registration Number: NCT02529358
• Lead Sponsor: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Brief Summary

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

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-02
• Primary Completion: 2013-10
• Study Completion: 2013-10
• Study First Submitted: 2015-03-18
• Status Verified: 2015-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-08-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-08-19
• Study First Posted: 2015-08-20
• Last Update Posted: 2015-08-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 180

Inclusion Criteria

• good knowledge of the german language
• owning a mobile phone

Exclusion Criteria

• brain damage
• personality disorders

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
EG ind	Personalized text messages	Personalized text messages
EG stand	standardized text messages	Standardized text messages
Control	Standardized text messages after 10 weeks	Standardized text messages after 10 weeks

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Depressive Symptom load	6 weeks post treatment (after intervention)	Measurement of depressive symptom severity with Beck Depression Inventory
Emotion Regulation Competence	6 weeks post treatment (after intervention)	Emotion Regulation Competence measured by SERSA

Secondary Outcome Measures

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

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Schön Klinik; 🇩🇪 Bad Arolsen, Hessen, Germany