A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Bulletin Board for Depression
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Sponsor
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Depressive symptoms: Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study is a randomised controlled trial that aims to examine the efficacy of an established online bulletin board for depression. It has been estimated that millions of people worldwide use peer-to-peer bulletin boards, forums or internet support groups (ISGs) for health conditions. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these groups in terms of symptom reduction or improvement in quality of life. The current project investigates the effectiveness of an established online bulletin board for depression available to the public. To our knowledge, this is the first randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of a pre-existing, well-established online bulletin board for depression in the community. The aims of the project are to determine whether the bulletin board improves mental health, quality of life, and related outcomes among members of the community with high levels of self-reported psychological distress and previous history or current experience of depression.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Over 18 years of age
- •Internet access with email
- •Self-report of current or previous experience of depression
Exclusion Criteria
- •Current participation in an online support group for depression
- •Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis
Arms & Interventions
Bulletin board
Participants will be given access to the online bulletin board (intervention) for a 6 month period
Intervention: bulletin board (Other)
Control
After 6 months participants allocated to the control group will receive access to the intervention
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Depressive symptoms: Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D)
Time Frame: 12 months post-baseline
20-item self -report measure of depression severity
Depressive symptoms: Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D)
Time Frame: Baseline
20-item self -report measure of depression severity
Depressive symptoms: Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D)
Time Frame: 6 months post-baseline
20-item self -report measure of depression severity
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Louise Farrer
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Australian National University