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DepressionNCT00903019

Feasibility of Telehealth Problem-Solving Therapy for Depressed Homebound Older Adults

A study testing Tele-Problem-Solving Therapy and In-Person PST in people with Depression, run by University of Texas at Austin at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of therapy given via teleconferencing to depressed homebound older adults. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 50 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Depression
What is being tested?
Tele-Problem-Solving Therapy and In-Person PST
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
158 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jun 2009to May 2013
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 50 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Non-Hispanic white, African American, or Hispanic
  • Homebound, as defined by receiving a home-delivered meals service or personal assistance and in-home support services because of disability
  • Moderate-to-severe depressive symptom severity, as defined by a score greater than or equal to 15 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD)
  • Has a home television set that can be used for problem-solving therapy (PST) sessions
  • Has a landline telephone

Who cannot join

  • High suicide risk, as defined by an intent or plan to attempt suicide within a month or indication of persistently moderate or severe suicidal ideation or behavior
  • Presence of dementia or executive dysfunction
  • Presence of bipolar disorder
  • Lifetime or current (within 12 months) psychotic symptoms or disorder
  • Presence of co-occurring alcohol or other addictive substance abuse, including benzodiazepines and opioids
  • Hearing or vision impairment that would interfere with PST participation
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Inability to actively participate in PST sessions due to acute or severe medical illness or functional impairment, such as a bed-bound state
  • Current involvement in psychotherapy
  • Inability to speak English

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Texas at Austin

    Austin, Texas, 78712-0358

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Telehealth Problem-Solving Therapy for Depressed Homebound Older Adults

This study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of therapy given via teleconferencing to depressed homebound older adults.

Read the detailed description

Older people with disabilities who cannot leave their homes are at increased risk of depression or depressive symptoms. Short-term psychotherapy, without medications, has been found effective for treating this population of people. Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a brief, structured, cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches people problem-solving and coping skills to deal with negative life events and daily problems. Previous research demonstrated that PST is an effective treatment for depression when delivered to older adults in their homes. The cost of service for these in-home visits, however, can be prohibitive for many older adults and social service providers. One way to extend treatment to more older adults is to deliver PST via teleconferencing (tele-PST). This study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of tele-PST in treating depression in homebound older adults.

This study will have two phases. Phase 1 will examine the feasibility of delivering treatment via teleconference. Participants in this phase will receive six weekly sessions of tele-PST and then complete a 2-week follow-up visit in which their depression, disability, and resourcefulness will be assessed. Logistical and procedural problems and acceptability of the treatment to participants will be used to guide modifications or adaptations made to tele-PST before conducting a larger, randomized trial in Phase 2.

Participation in Phase 2 will last 6 weeks, with follow-up visits lasting until 24 weeks after the conclusion of treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: tele-PST, in-person PST, and attention control. Participants in the tele-PST group will receive six weekly sessions of PST via teleconference, and participants in the in-person PST group will receive six weekly sessions of PST from a study therapist in person. Both these groups will also receive six monthly maintenance calls from their study therapist after the completion of treatment. Participants in the attention group will receive six weekly phone calls followed by six monthly phone calls to monitor their health. All participants in Phase 2 will complete assessments at 2, 12, and 24 weeks following their treatment. These assessments will measure the adequacy of recruitment, enrollment, and retention strategies; the compliance rates and service delivery costs of tele-PST and in-person PST; and participants' depression, disability, and resourcefulness.

Conditions
Depression
Being tested
Tele-Problem-Solving Therapy, In-Person PST, Attention control
Keywords
Homebound, Older Adults, Disability, Videoconferencing
Medical subject headings
Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Tele-Problem-Solving TherapyBehavioural

    Six sessions of tele-PST

  • In-Person PSTBehavioural

    Six sessions of in person PST

  • Attention controlBehavioural

    Six weekly telephone calls

Study groups in NCT00903019
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1ExperimentalParticipants will receive problem-solving therapy (PST) delivered via teleconferencing (tele-PST).
Receives: Behavioral: Tele-Problem-Solving Therapy
2Active comparatorParticipants will receive problem-solving therapy (PST) delivered in-person.
Receives: Behavioral: In-Person PST
3Placebo comparatorParticipants will receive monitoring phone calls.
Receives: Behavioral: Attention control

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD)

    Measured: Measured at 2, 12, and 24 weeks

  2. 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS-II)

    Measured: Measured at 2, 12, and 24 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted15 May 2009 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2009
  3. Primary completionMay 2013
  4. Study completionMay 2013

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Health services research
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
158 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00903019
Sponsor's protocol ID
R34MH083872
Other IDs
R34MH083872, DATR A4-GPS
Status last verified
Mar 2015
First submitted
13 May 2009
Last updated
23 Mar 2015
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Choi NG, Marti CN, Bruce ML, Kunik ME. Relationship between depressive symptom severity and emergency department use among low-income, depressed homebound older adults aged 50 years and older. BMC Psychiatry. 2012 Dec 26;12:233. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-12-233.

    PubMed 23267529

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Tele-Problem-Solving Therapy and In-Person PST in people with Depression, run by University of Texas at Austin at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Mar 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) (time frame: Measured at 2, 12, and 24 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00903019, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Mar 2015.

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