Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Abstract Background Although major depression is a frequent disorder in non-professional caregivers and there are effective psychological interventions to prevent it, caregivers have difficulty accessing them. Interventions for depression applied through an app could improve accessibility; yet, to d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Trials |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2793-2 |
| _version_ | 1818537749857173504 |
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| author | Fernando L. Vázquez Ángela Torres Olga Díaz Mario Páramo Patricia Otero Vanessa Blanco Lara López |
| author_facet | Fernando L. Vázquez Ángela Torres Olga Díaz Mario Páramo Patricia Otero Vanessa Blanco Lara López |
| author_sort | Fernando L. Vázquez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although major depression is a frequent disorder in non-professional caregivers and there are effective psychological interventions to prevent it, caregivers have difficulty accessing them. Interventions for depression applied through an app could improve accessibility; yet, to date, adherence to such interventions has been low. The objectives of this study are to (1) evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral depression prevention intervention administered through a smartphone app with and without telephone conference calls, (2) analyze the mediators of the change in the incidence of depression and depressive symptoms, and (3) assess adherence and satisfaction with the interventions. Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted. Caregivers with elevated symptoms will be randomly assigned to a cognitive behavioral intervention administered by a smartphone app (CBIA) group, a CBIA plus telephone conference calls (TCCs) group (CBIA + TCC), or an attention control group. Each condition will consist of approximately 58 participants. Both interventions will be administered in five modules through a smartphone app and the CBIA + TCC group will receive additional TCCs in group format (four sessions of 30 min each). Trained blind assessors will conduct pre-treatment, post-treatment and follow-up assessments at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Discussion This study will provide evidence of the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention to prevent depression in caregivers with elevated depressive symptoms administered through a smartphone app and the impact of feedback applied through conference calls to increase program adherence and efficacy. If the results were favorable, it would mean that we have developed a more effective, accessible, and clinically useful preventive depression intervention than the currently available ones for many present and future caregivers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03110991. Registered 5 April 2017. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:54:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d5a2842960543d48bf28bac442f2cb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:54:46Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trials |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d5a2842960543d48bf28bac442f2cb52022-12-22T00:54:11ZengBMCTrials1745-62152018-07-0119111010.1186/s13063-018-2793-2Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trialFernando L. Vázquez0Ángela Torres1Olga Díaz2Mario Páramo3Patricia Otero4Vanessa Blanco5Lara López6Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Psychology, University of A CoruñaDepartment of Evolutive and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de CompostelaAbstract Background Although major depression is a frequent disorder in non-professional caregivers and there are effective psychological interventions to prevent it, caregivers have difficulty accessing them. Interventions for depression applied through an app could improve accessibility; yet, to date, adherence to such interventions has been low. The objectives of this study are to (1) evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral depression prevention intervention administered through a smartphone app with and without telephone conference calls, (2) analyze the mediators of the change in the incidence of depression and depressive symptoms, and (3) assess adherence and satisfaction with the interventions. Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted. Caregivers with elevated symptoms will be randomly assigned to a cognitive behavioral intervention administered by a smartphone app (CBIA) group, a CBIA plus telephone conference calls (TCCs) group (CBIA + TCC), or an attention control group. Each condition will consist of approximately 58 participants. Both interventions will be administered in five modules through a smartphone app and the CBIA + TCC group will receive additional TCCs in group format (four sessions of 30 min each). Trained blind assessors will conduct pre-treatment, post-treatment and follow-up assessments at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Discussion This study will provide evidence of the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention to prevent depression in caregivers with elevated depressive symptoms administered through a smartphone app and the impact of feedback applied through conference calls to increase program adherence and efficacy. If the results were favorable, it would mean that we have developed a more effective, accessible, and clinically useful preventive depression intervention than the currently available ones for many present and future caregivers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03110991. Registered 5 April 2017.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2793-2Non-professional caregiversAppSmartphoneDepressionPreventionAdherence to the intervention |
| spellingShingle | Fernando L. Vázquez Ángela Torres Olga Díaz Mario Páramo Patricia Otero Vanessa Blanco Lara López Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial Trials Non-professional caregivers App Smartphone Depression Prevention Adherence to the intervention |
| title | Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non-professional caregivers with depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | cognitive behavioral intervention via a smartphone app for non professional caregivers with depressive symptoms study protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Non-professional caregivers App Smartphone Depression Prevention Adherence to the intervention |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2793-2 |
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