A Pilot Study of Therapist Guided Activity Practice for Depressive Symptoms

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Depressive Symptoms

• Registration Number: NCT03327259
• Lead Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Brief Summary

There is literature to support both the need for and efficacy of brief interventions for depressive symptoms, particularly among college students.Brief behavioral activation interventions (BATD) have gained recognition as efficacious treatments for depression; yet a recent study evidenced a substantial (39%) non-response rate (Kuyken et al., 2017). In accordance with behavioral models of depression, the treatment involves increasing activity and positive experience, to break the negative reinforcement cycle maintaining depressed mood. Thus, strategies that may facilitate increasing activity may improve BATD outcomes. The objective of the current study is to examine whether briefly practicing a target activity during an activity planning session (modified single session of BATD) increases the likelihood of completing the activity during the upcoming week. We hypothesized that guided activity practice may improve self-efficacy within session and activity completion in the upcoming week. We further aim to explore whether activity completion mediates depressive symptom change.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-10-09
• Study First Submitted: 2017-10-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-10-25
• Study First Posted: 2017-10-31
• Primary Completion: 2019-04-05
• Study Completion: 2019-04-05
• Status Verified: 2019-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-12-06
• Last Update Posted: 2019-12-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• Ages 18-65
• University of Texas at Austin students currently enrolled in Introductory Psychology (PSY 301)
• Score >14 on Beck Depression Inventory during both pre-screening and baseline screen
• Avoidance rating >59 and Distress rating >39 on at least one item of the Avoidance Screen.

Exclusion Criteria

• Initiated psychotherapy or psychotropic medication in past 6 weeks
• Recent change (past 6 weeks) in psychotropic medication
• Current or past psychosis or mania

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Self-Efficacy in Response to Therapist Guided Activity Practice	Baseline	Following the activity planning portion of the initial visit, participants rate the degree of self-efficacy (confidence in ability to complete the goal) on a scale from 0 (no confidence) to 100 (complete confidence). Participants randomized to Enhanced Activity Practice condition will complete a second rating following the activity practice. The pre-to-post difference score in self-efficacy will be examined as a primary outcome.
Percent Activity Completion Between Conditions	Daily for 7 days	Participants will complete daily surveys for seven days following the initial visit. Participants will answer whether or not the activity was completed that day. Data will be collected using Qualtrics survey software. The outcome variable is the percentage of days the participant completed the activity.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Depressive Symptoms	Baseline and 1 week follow-up	Severity of depressive symptoms will be measured at baseline and 1-week follow-up using the Beck Depression Inventory-II.
Experiential Avoidance and Psychological Flexibility	Baseline and 1 week follow-up	Experiential avoidance and psychological flexibility will be measured at baseline and 1-week follow-up using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II.
Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance	Baseline and 1 week follow-up	Multidimensional experiential avoidance will be measured at baseline and 1-week follow-up using the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Texas at Austin; 🇺🇸 Austin, Texas, United States