Investigating the Effectiveness of Telepsychiatry for Treating Major Depression in a Chinese American Nursing Home

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder

• Registration Number: NCT00505518
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

The current use of telepsychiatry, or psychiatric care using videoconferencing, is very limited. The present study investigates the use of this method with a depressed Chinese American population in a nursing home. It is believed that this population can benefit from telepsychiatric treatment when used in collaboration with the primary care they receive in the nursing home.

Detailed Description

Individuals at the South Cove Manor nursing home will be referred to this study if they are experiencing depression. After meeting with the Principal Investigator (a psychiatrist), he will collaborate with the primary care physician and the nursing home staff to establish a treatment plan for the patient. Videoconferencing will be used by the P.I. for regular psychiatric visits with the patient as well as meetings with the nursing home staff to coordinate care for the patient. After collaboration between the two groups, treatment suggestions will be given to the patient's primary care physician (PCP) to implement in the primary care setting. The patient's symptomology, mood, satisfaction of life and side effects of medication will be recorded regularly to measure the effects of treatment for analysis.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-09
• Study First Submitted: 2007-07-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-07-19
• Study First Posted: 2007-07-23
• Primary Completion: 2007-11
• Study Completion: 2007-11
• Results First Submitted: 2012-02-24
• Status Verified: 2013-07
• Results First Submitted QC: 2013-07-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-07-09
• Results First Posted: 2013-09-17
• Last Update Posted: 2013-09-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 9

Inclusion Criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
• Patient at South Cove Manor Nursing Home
• Referred by nursing staff for psychiatric consultation

Exclusion Criteria

• Not competent to participate in psychiatric interviews

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Mean Scores on Clinical Global Impressions	Baseline, 30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)	Minimum score - 1 (better outcome) Maximum score - 7 (worse outcome)
Patient/Family Telepsychiatry Service Satisfaction Survey	30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)	Patients' (or their family members' for those who had severe cognitive deficits) satisfaction with the telepsychiatry services were surveyed using a satisfaction questionnaire specifically designed for this study. The satisfaction questionnaire is a scale with three choices: "not satisfied", "satisfied", and "highly satisfied."
Nurse Telepsychiatry Services Satisfaction Questionnaire	30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)	The charge nurse's satisfaction with the telepsychiatry services were surveyed using a satisfaction questionnaire specifically designed for this study. The satisfaction questionnaire is a scale with three choices: "not satisfied", "satisfied", and "highly satisfied."

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

South Cove Manor; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Depression and Clinical Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States