A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial of Memory Specificity Training (MEST) for Depression

NCT01882452 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: MEST-UK
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Depression involves the tendency to recall overgeneral personal memories, a phenomenon which has been linked to numerous adverse psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a group-based Memory Specificity Training (MEST) programme improves outcomes in depression, and how this compares to an education and support control group. The primary aim is to examine whether MEST, which involves repeated practice retrieving specific autobiographical memories reduces depressive symptoms immediately post-treatment, and whether this is maintained 3 months after treatment. The secondary objective of this trial is to examine the role of hypothesised cognitive processes (ie., rumination, executive control, cognitive avoidance) which may underlie improvements in depression and memory.

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder; Depressive Symptoms

Keywords

Memory specificity training; Autobiographical memory; Major depressive disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from baseline in depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)

  Symptom severity score

  Change from baseline to 3 months post-treatment

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change in depressive status according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - IV (SCID-IV)

  Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment, and 6-months post-treatment (6-month follow-up for MEST group only)

• Change from baseline in autobiographical memory specificity on Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT)

  Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

• Change from baseline in depressive symptoms as measured on the BDI-II

  Change from baseline to post-treatment (approximately 6-weeks)

• Depression free days following treatment according to the Longitudinal Follow-up Evaluation on the SCID-IV

  Post-treatment and 3-month and 6-month follow-up

Other Outcomes (7)

• Change from baseline on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

  Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

• Change from baseline on the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)

  Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

• Change from baseline on the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ)

  Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

Study Arms (2)

Memory Specificity Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Five weekly one-hour sessions of memory specificity training administered in groups of 5-8 participants.

Behavioral: Memory Specificity Training

Education and Support

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Five weekly one-hour sessions of an education-and-discussion supportive intervention, administered in groups of 5-8 participants.

Behavioral: Education and Support

Interventions

Memory Specificity Training BEHAVIORAL

This intervention is a manualised, structured treatment delivered over 5 x 60 minute sessions to groups of 5-8 individuals. This treatment involves repeated practice of retrieving specific autobiographical memories in response to positive, negative and neutral cue words. There is a single psychoeducation component in the first session about memory difficulties common in depression which provides the rationale for this treatment. The training is supplemented by weekly homework practice.

Memory Specificity Training

Education and Support BEHAVIORAL

The education-and-support comparison condition is matched with the experimental arm for length and format (ie., 5 x 60 minute weekly sessions in groups of 5-8 individuals). Groups receive a single psychoeducation component where information about depression is provided. This is followed by non-directive support where participants are encouraged to raise different kinds of events that occur each week for discussion in the group. The sessions are supplemented by a homework diary where participants will be invited to note down an event that occurs each day, which may be positive, negative, or benign and non-emotional in nature. This material will provide the basis for discussion in the weekly group meetings.

Education and Support

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Principal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
• History of more than one previous depressive episode
• Current diagnosis of a Major Depressive Episode
• Depressive symptoms rated in the mild-severe range (\> 13 on the BDI-II)
• Memory specificity \< .70 (as assessed on the AMT)

You may not qualify if:

• Head trauma
• Organic brain damage
• Secondary diagnosis of another affective disorder
• Psychosis
• Current drug or alcohol abuse or dependence
• A diagnosed Axis II disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical Research Council: lead
• KU Leuven: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Aliza Werner-Seidler

Sydney, 2022, Australia

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Werner-Seidler A, Hitchcock C, Bevan A, McKinnon A, Gillard J, Dahm T, Chadwick I, Panesar I, Breakwell L, Mueller V, Rodrigues E, Rees C, Gormley S, Schweizer S, Watson P, Raes F, Jobson L, Dalgleish T. A cluster randomized controlled platform trial comparing group MEmory specificity training (MEST) to group psychoeducation and supportive counselling (PSC) in the treatment of recurrent depression. Behav Res Ther. 2018 Jun;105:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Mar 15.

  PMID: 29587159 DERIVED

• Dalgleish T, Bevan A, McKinnon A, Breakwell L, Mueller V, Chadwick I, Schweizer S, Hitchcock C, Watson P, Raes F, Jobson L, Werner-Seidler A. A comparison of MEmory Specificity Training (MEST) to education and support (ES) in the treatment of recurrent depression: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Jul 22;15:293. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-293.

  PMID: 25052061 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Major; Depression

Interventions

Educational Status; Palliative Care

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Socioeconomic Factors; Population Characteristics; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Tim Dalgleish, PhD

  Medical Research Council

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2013
• First Posted: June 20, 2013
• Study Start: July 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2016
• Study Completion: October 1, 2016
• Last Updated: March 22, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-03

Locations

AU (1)