Text Message Based Maintenance Intervention

Mental Disorders Clinical Trial

Official title:

Evaluation of a Transdiagnostic Text Message Based Maintenance Intervention After Inpatient Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02529358
• Other study ID #: SMS-MI
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: March 18, 2015
• Last updated: August 19, 2015
• Start date: February 2012
• Est. completion date: October 2013

Study information

• Verified date: August 2015
• Source: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlange-Nürnberg
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Germany: Ethics Commission
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The study presents findings from a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of text messages encouraging short emotion regulation exercises on the course of psychopathological symptoms after inpatient treatment for depression. In this context, the study also compares the effectiveness of standardized versus personalized text messages.

Description:

Introduction: The importance of aftercare and maintenance intervention to reduce psychopathology, prevent relapses and stabilize the effects of inpatient cognitive behavioral therapy is well proven. In order to attain a high reachability rate among the patients, simple, quick and low cost methods should be used. Modern communication technologies, such as mobile phones provide this opportunity. Therefore, the current study explores how modern communication technologies can be used as a support system in psychotherapy to realize a reduced psychopathology.

Methods: A total of 150 patients participated in a transdiagnostical 6-weeks text messaging maintenance intervention. The text messages were based on emotion regulation skills. The effectiveness of different variants of the text messages was studied in a randomized controlled trial, comparing the impact on the patient's psychopathological outcome to receiving personalized text messages versus standardized text messages.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 180
• Est. completion date: October 2013
• Est. primary completion date: October 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• good knowledge of the german language

• owning a mobile phone

Exclusion Criteria:

• brain damage

• personality disorders

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Mental Disorders
• Psychotic Disorders

Intervention

Behavioral:
• standardized text messages
Messages consist of relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises as well as emotion regulation strategies
• Personalized text messages
Patients write their own messages
• Standardized text messages after 10 weeks
Messages consist of relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises as well as emotion regulation strategies which are send to the patients 10 weeks after completing inpatient therapy

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Germany	Schön Klinik	Bad Arolsen	Hessen

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlange-Nürnberg	Philipps University Marburg Medical Center

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Germany, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Depressive Symptom load	Measurement of depressive symptom severity with Beck Depression Inventory	6 weeks post treatment (after intervention)	No
Primary	Emotion Regulation Competence	Emotion Regulation Competence measured by SERSA	6 weeks post treatment (after intervention)	No
Secondary	Psychopathological symptomatology	Measurement of psychopathological symptomatology with self report questionnaires	10 weeks Follow-Up	No
Secondary	Depressive Symptom load	Measurement of depressive symptom severity with Beck Depression Inventory	10 weeks Follow-Up	No
Secondary	Emotion Regulation Competence	Emotion Regulation Competence measured by SERSA	10 weeks follow up	No