A Pilot Study of Therapist Guided Activity Practice for Depressive Symptoms

NCT03327259 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2017-02-0043
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Percent Activity Completion Between Conditions

  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.

  Daily for 7 days

• Change in Self-Efficacy in Response to Therapist Guided Activity Practice

  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.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• 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

Other Outcomes (4)

• Behavioral Activation

  Baseline and 1 week follow-up

• Distress Intolerance

  Baseline and 1 week follow-up

• Anxiety Sensitivity and Distress Intolerance

  Baseline and 1 week follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Activity Planning Only

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Activity Planning

Enhanced Activity Planning

EXPERIMENTAL

Activity planning with therapist guided activity practice.

Behavioral: Activity Planning; Behavioral: Therapist Guided Activity Practice

Interventions

Activity Planning BEHAVIORAL

The therapist will work with the participant to select a challenging, yet rewarding or value-driven activity that he/she can engage in 5x and monitor daily over the upcoming week.

Activity Planning Only; Enhanced Activity Planning

Therapist Guided Activity Practice BEHAVIORAL

The therapist will work with the participant to plan and carry out a brief in-vivo version of their goal/target activity. The therapist will guide the participant through the activity for approximately 15 minutes.

Enhanced Activity Planning

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas at Austin: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas, 78712, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Interventions

Ambulatory Care Facilities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Facilities; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctoral Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 23, 2017
• First Posted: October 31, 2017
• Study Start: October 9, 2017
• Primary Completion: April 5, 2019
• Study Completion: April 5, 2019
• Last Updated: December 10, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-12

Locations

US (1)