RCT for Latina Mental Health Using Web-Based Apps

NCT06874790 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 24-5962R01MH137232
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 700
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study compares a choice-driven, interactive, evidence-informed storytelling web-based app intervention with links to resources and treatment (Tx) recommendations (made by a character via her blog) and Tx locator, to a web-based app with links to publicly available informational internet videos, MH resources, and a treatment locator for at least moderately anxious/depressed untreated English and Spanish speaking Latinas to determine if a story-based, character-driven approach is more effective for catalyzing mental health treatment initiation.

Conditions

Mental Health; Anxiety; Depression; Well-Being, Psychological

Keywords

Latina; Women; Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Number of Participants Initiating Mental Health Treatment (MH Tx)

  MH Tx initiation, defined as completing a MH specialist visit (initial evaluation or therapy visit) or a primary care visit that results in a pharmacotherapy prescription as documented by EHR data at the site identified by the participant as where they initiated MH Tx.

  9 months

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Psychological openness

  9 months

• Mental health help seeking attitude

  9 months

• Propensity to seek help

  9 months

• Indifference to Stigma

  9 months

• Stigma Concerns

  9 months

Other Outcomes (2)

• Depression

  9 months

• Anxiety

  9 months

Study Arms (2)

Catalina transmedia web-based app

EXPERIMENTAL

Access to Confronting My Emotions/ Enfrentando Mis Emociones (Catalina), an interactive web-based app containing 31 minutes of story based, character-driven videos, featuring evidence-informed Latina characters (Catalina and Veronica) in a relatable story about dealing with depression and anxiety. All features are available 24 hours/day in Spanish and English via a participant's unique link, including access to "Veronica's Blog" linked to the story, and links to resources such as infographics on depression and anxiety, hotlines and helplines, free evidence-based apps, online support groups, SAMHSA's MH service locator plus "Veronica's" recommendation of up to 3 Latinx-serving MH Tx clinics in LA \& Orange Counties where participants can see a primary care physician for referral to MH therapy or pharmacotherapy. Monthly text/email messages will be sent for 9 months to prompt/remind Latinas they can use their unique link to re-watch videos and re-visit Veronica's blog.

Behavioral: Catalina

Links to informational videos

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Access to the control web-based app that offers links to 31 minutes of publicly available informational videos specifically about depression and anxiety in Spanish and English (that are not story based and feature no fictionalized characters), available 24 hours/ day via participant's unique link on Chorus. It will provides direct links to 3 public websites: 1) Mental Health America, 2) Anxiety \& Depression Association of America, 3) SAMHSA. All offer even more links to various MH resources, platforms, videos, and to SAMHSA's MH service locator by ZIP Code including to low cost sites for MH Tx.

Behavioral: Control webpage

Interventions

Catalina BEHAVIORAL

Catalina transmedia web-based app intervention with 10 story-based videos (including bonus story extender videos) totaling 31 minutes plus the blog of the character, "Veronica," which has MH resource links including Veronica's recommendations of at least 3 local Latinx-serving clinics in LA and Orange County ZIP Codes that offer low-cost MH Tx.

Also known as: Confronting My Emotions, Enfrentando Mis Emociones

Catalina transmedia web-based app

Control webpage BEHAVIORAL

Links to informational videos (totaling 31 minutes) on depression and anxiety, listing of the same 3 local Latinx-serving clinics in LA and Orange County ZIP codes that offer low-cost MH Tx, and links to nationally available websites that offer resources (including access to service locators).

Links to informational videos

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Screening is based on self-identification as woman or female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Latina (women who are from or have family ties to Latin America)
• Currently resides in LA or Orange County
• Age 18 and older
• Able to speak, read, and write in English or Spanish
• Score 10 or higher on GAD-7 and/or PHQ-8
• Access to the internet via smartphone, tablet, or computer
• Not currently receiving mental health therapy or pharmacotherapy
• Has not accessed mental health services during the previous 6 months

You may not qualify if:

• Not Latina or Hispanic
• Under age 18

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Los Angeles: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

UCLA

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being; Anxiety Disorders; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms

Study Officials

• MarySue V. Heilemann, PhD,RN,FAAN

  UCLA School of Nursing

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Coordinator

CONTACT

310-210-4273; mediahealthstudy@gmail.com

Study Design

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

Model Details: Individual-level randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2025
• First Posted: March 13, 2025
• Study Start: July 9, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2028
• Last Updated: December 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)