Randomised Controlled Trial of an Existing Online Support Group for Depression and Anxiety
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Sponsor
- University College, London
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of online support groups for anxiety and depression.
Detailed Description
In recent years the number of online support groups for conditions like depression and anxiety has grown rapidly. Millions of people are thought to be using them around the world. This research aims to help find out whether the use of online support groups is beneficial and to learn more about what happens in these groups.
This research will compare online support groups with expressive writing. Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time. In online support groups giving and receiving support from others can be helpful while expressive writing about emotional issues can be cathartic.
1,000 participants will be recruited online from the UK, USA and Canada and randomly assigned to either an existing online support group or to an expressive writing condition.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Self-defined depression & anxiety
- •Resident in the UK, US or Canada
- •Access to the internet
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Arms & Interventions
Expressive writing
Intervention: Expressive writing (Behavioral)
Online support group
Intervention: Online support group (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale
Time Frame: Zero, three and six months
Secondary Outcomes
- Satisfaction with Life Scale(Zero, three and six months)
- The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey(Zero, three and six months)
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment(Zero, three and six months)
- The Illness perception questionnaire(Zero, three and six months)