Online Support Groups for Depression and Anxiety

Depression Clinical Trial

Official title:

Randomised Controlled Trial of an Existing Online Support Group for Depression and Anxiety

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Unknown status

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01149265
• Other study ID #: UCL1376/001
• Status: Unknown status
• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• First received: June 22, 2010
• Last updated: July 20, 2010
• Start date: May 2010
• Est. completion date: February 2011

Study information

• Verified date: July 2010
• Source: University College, London
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of online support groups for anxiety and depression.

Description:

In recent years the number of online support groups for conditions like depression and anxiety has grown rapidly. Millions of people are thought to be using them around the world. This research aims to help find out whether the use of online support groups is beneficial and to learn more about what happens in these groups.

This research will compare online support groups with expressive writing. Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time. In online support groups giving and receiving support from others can be helpful while expressive writing about emotional issues can be cathartic.

1,000 participants will be recruited online from the UK, USA and Canada and randomly assigned to either an existing online support group or to an expressive writing condition.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Unknown status
• Enrollment: 1000
• Est. completion date: February 2011
• Est. primary completion date: February 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Self-defined depression & anxiety

• Resident in the UK, US or Canada

• Access to the internet

Exclusion Criteria:

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anxiety
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Depressive Disorder

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Online support group
Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time.
• Expressive writing
Online support groups are internet forums where like-minded people give and receive both informational and emotional support.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	University College London	London

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University College, London

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale		Zero, three and six months
Secondary	Satisfaction with Life Scale		Zero, three and six months
Secondary	The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey		Zero, three and six months
Secondary	Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment		Zero, three and six months
Secondary	The Illness perception questionnaire		Zero, three and six months