Evaluation Study of Medical-Social Collaboration Model for Middle-aged and Older Adults With Depressive Symptoms

NCT07064551 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UW 24-649
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 192
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a medical-social collaboration model works to reduce depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults with subsyndromal depressive symptoms who are waiting for their first psychiatric appointment. Secondary outcomes of the study include reduced anxiety symptoms, reduced loneliness, reduced rumination, reduced self-criticism, improved self-reassurance, improved resilience, improved self-efficacy, improved health-related quality of life, as well as improved quality-adjusted life years, and reduced healthcare service utilisation. Researchers will compare a medical-social collaboration model to a self-management booklet. Participants will:

• Receive CBT-based stepped-care interventions through the medical-social collaboration model or a self-management booklet.
• Complete a survey about their mental health and service use every three months until their first psychiatric appointment.

Conditions

Depression

Keywords

Depressive symptoms; Mental health; Medical-social collaboration; Integrated health and social care; Stepped-care intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in Depressive Symptoms

  Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); range 0-27; higher scores indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms (worse outcome)

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Changes in Anxiety Symptoms

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

• Changes in Loneliness

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

• Changes in Health Service Use

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

• Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

Other Outcomes (6)

• Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

• Rumination

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

• Resilience

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months

Study Arms (2)

JC JoyAge stepped-care model

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural therapy-based stepped-care intervention; Other: Self-management booklet

Usual care with minimal support

OTHER

Other: Self-management booklet

Interventions

Cognitive behavioural therapy-based stepped-care intervention BEHAVIORAL

After initial clinical assessment, participants will be offered interventions based on their depressive symptom severity (Patient Health Questionnaire-9-item \[PHQ-9\]). Mild symptoms (PHQ-9=5-9): 6 weekly low intensity CBT-based group intervention sessions led by trained clinical social workers, with 2 booster sessions as necessary. Moderate symptoms (PHQ-9=10-14): 6 weekly high intensity CBT-based group intervention sessions led by trained clinical social workers, with 2 booster sessions as necessary. Moderately severe symptoms (PHQ-9≥15): high intensity individual or group CBT-based intervention. Trained peer supporters will be matched to participants to walk them through the process with regular follow-up.

JC JoyAge stepped-care model

Self-management booklet OTHER

The booklet incorporates components of behavioural activation, which encourages participants to engage in meaningful activities in daily life to change their mood. Trained research assistants will regularly check in with the participants to monitor their depressive symptoms.

JC JoyAge stepped-care model; Usual care with minimal support

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Currently awaiting psychiatric services provided by the Hospital Authority
• Have depressive symptoms of at least mild severity
• Able to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• A known history of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, or dementia
• Communication difficulties that preclude participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead
• Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster: collaborator
• Hospital Authority Hong Kong East Cluster: collaborator
• Hospital Authority Kolwoon Central Cluster: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Personal Satisfaction

Study Officials

• Terry YS Lum, PhD

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Gloria HY Wong, PhD

  University of Reading

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Wai Chi Chan, MBChB

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Yao Du, PhD

CONTACT

852-39175594; yaodu@hku.hk

Walker SH Au

CONTACT

ashwalk@hku.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Masking was no possible in this study.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 11, 2025
• First Posted: July 14, 2025
• Study Start: August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)