PEERS Using Peer Mentors to Deliver Depression Care

NCT04319094 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 2022P001675R01MH123165
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 149
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Fifteen to twenty percent of older Americans (6 to 8 million people) suffer from depression but more than one-half do not receive any services, a burden disproportionately shared by low-income and minority older adults who receive few or no services. The investigators propose to test a community-based peer model of depression care called PEERS (a peer support program) that provides self-care support for minority and low-income older adults.

Conditions

Depression

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Patient Health Questionnaire-9

  Depression will be assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9. The PHQ-9 score is summed. There are 9 items in the questionnaire and scores range from 0 to 27. A score of 5 indicates mild depressive symptoms, 10 - 14 indicates moderate depression, 15-19 indicates moderately severe depression, 20-27 indicates severe depression.

  Baseline, post-intervention (8-week), 3 months after intervention, 6 months after intervention, 9 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Rand Health Survey Short Form 36 - Physical Functioning

  Baseline, post-intervention (8-week), 3 months after intervention , 6 months after intervention, 9 months after intervention, 12 months intervention

• Rand Health Survey Short Form 36 Item - Social Functioning

  Baseline, post-intervention (8-week), 3 months after intervention , 6 months after intervention, 9 months after intervention, 12 months intervention

• Rand Health Survey Short Form 36 Item - Emotional Functioning

  Baseline, post-intervention (8-week), 3 months after intervention , 6 months after intervention, 9 months after intervention, 12 months intervention

• Cornell Health Service Index - ER Service Use

  Baseline, post-intervention (8-week), 3 months after intervention, 6 months after intervention, 9 months after intervention, 12 months after intervention

• Engagement - Adherence

  Intervention 1-8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

PEERS

EXPERIMENTAL

Peer mentors who have experience of depression are trained and supervised to deliver depression care. Peers will meet with depressed older adults for 8 weekly meeting lasting approximately 45 minutes. Peer mentors will provide social support defined as emotional, informational and appraisal support that includes coping strategies. Peers will be supervised by a mental health professional.

Behavioral: PEERS

Social interaction

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

A study staff member will provide eight weekly social interaction visits and phone calls to the depressed older adult.

Other: Social interaction

Interventions

PEERS BEHAVIORAL

Peer mentors deliver depression care that include social support and coping skills, focused on goal setting and small behavioral changes.

PEERS

Social interaction OTHER

Study staff will provide a combination of 8 social interaction visits and phone calls to the participants randomized to this condition.

Social interaction

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years and older
• depressive symptoms with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores ≥ 5
• belong to an underserved population, defined as annual income less than 200% of the federal poverty level ($24,120) and/or self-identified ethnic minority
• able to communicate in English
• willing to give informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• meet diagnostic criteria for mania or hypomania
• meet diagnostic criteria for psychotic syndrome
• meet diagnostic criteria for substance abuse or dependence
• acutely suicidal
• a score on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≤ 24
• currently taking an antidepressant medication with dosage change in the past 3 months
• receiving active psychotherapy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Massachusetts General Hospital: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

Location

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Joo JH, Xie A, Choi N, Gallo JJ, Zhong Y, Ma M, Locascio JJ, Khemraj U, Mace RA, Solomon P. A Mixed Methods Effectiveness Study of a Peer Support Intervention for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2025 Apr;33(4):389-401. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2024.09.013. Epub 2024 Oct 10.

  PMID: 39438236 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Interventions

Drug Interactions

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pharmacological Phenomena; Pharmacological and Toxicological Phenomena; Physiological Phenomena

Limitations and Caveats

Drop outs leading to small number of subjects analyzed at 12 month follow up.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Jin hui Joo
• Organization: Mass General Hospital

jhjoo@mgh.harvard.edu

410-724-5317

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 20, 2020
• First Posted: March 24, 2020
• Study Start: February 17, 2020
• Primary Completion: May 30, 2023
• Study Completion: May 30, 2023
• Last Updated: November 20, 2024
• Results First Posted: November 20, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-10

Locations

US (2)