A Pilot Study of Therapist Guided Activity Practice for Depressive Symptoms
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 100
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Self-Efficacy in Response to Therapist Guided Activity Practice
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
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
Arms & Interventions
Activity Planning Only
Intervention: Activity Planning (Behavioral)
Enhanced Activity Planning
Activity planning with therapist guided activity practice.
Intervention: Activity Planning (Behavioral)
Enhanced Activity Planning
Activity planning with therapist guided activity practice.
Intervention: Therapist Guided Activity Practice (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Self-Efficacy in Response to Therapist Guided Activity Practice
Time Frame: 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
Time Frame: 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 Outcomes
- Depressive Symptoms(Baseline and 1 week follow-up)
- Experiential Avoidance and Psychological Flexibility(Baseline and 1 week follow-up)
- Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance(Baseline and 1 week follow-up)
Investigators
Aliza T. Stein
Doctoral Student
University of Texas at Austin