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DepressionMARIGOLDNCT02861755

Online Positive Emotion Skills Intervention for Symptoms of Depression

A study testing Positive Affect Skills Training and 5-week Emotion Reporting in people with Depression and Psychological Stress, run by Northwestern University 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

Major depressive disorder affects over 120 million people worldwide. Only 50% of Americans with depression receive adequate treatment, and one-third of those receiving treatment do not benefit. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Depression, Psychological Stress, Affect
What is being tested?
Positive Affect Skills Training and 5-week Emotion Reporting
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
677 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Aug 2016to Aug 2018
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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Daily internet access
  • Cell phone ownership
  • Score of 5 or higher on PHQ-8 scale
  • Lives in US or Canada
  • Speaks and reads English, able to provide informed consent

Who cannot join

None listed.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, MSS Dept

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Online Positive Emotion Skills Intervention for Symptoms of Depression (MARIGOLD)

Major depressive disorder affects over 120 million people worldwide. Only 50% of Americans with depression receive adequate treatment, and one-third of those receiving treatment do not benefit. In this pilot project investigators will bring together two approaches that have the promise to reach large numbers of depression sufferers: a skills-based intervention for increasing positive affect and experiences in depressed individuals, delivered in an inexpensive self-paced mobile format. The study will make use of smartphone technology to improve conventional outcome measurement via in-the-moment emotion sampling and mobile assessment of heart rate variability, a predictor of cardiac health that may mediate some of the health effects of depression. The aims are: 1) Retool the existing web-based positive emotion intervention for use on smartphones, with innovative exercises that help participants bring the skills they are learning into real-life situations; 2) Perform a small feasibility trial of the mobile intervention on individuals with clinical depression recruited online 3) Eventually incorporate feedback from the small feasibility trial to improve the online intervention and conduct a full randomized trial on a larger scale

Being tested
Positive Affect Skills Training, 5-week Emotion Reporting
Keywords
Depression, Depressive Disorder, Psychological Stress, Behavioral Symptoms, Mental Disorders, Mood Disorders
Medical subject headings
Depression, Stress, Psychological, Depressive Disorder, Behavioral Symptoms, Mental Disorders, Mood Disorders

What participants receive

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

  • Positive Affect Skills TrainingBehavioural

    Blend of enhancements may include: 5-minutes of facilitator contact, an online discussion board, or gamification via virtual flower badges.

  • 5-week Emotion ReportingBehavioural

Study groups in NCT02861755
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm 1ExperimentalThe MARIGOLD positive emotions course plus a blend of enhancements to include: 5-minutes of weekly facilitator contact, online discussion board, or gamification through virtual flower badges.
Receives: Behavioral: Positive Affect Skills Training
Arm 2ExperimentalEmotion reporting control condition. Reporting daily emotions for the same duration of the online emotions course.
Receives: Behavioral: 5-week Emotion Reporting

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Retention Over Time (average of 4.5 months through study completion)

    Determine the percentage of participants providing data at each stage of the study from baseline to study completion (average of 4.5 months). This includes capturing dropout rates and reasons for dropping out, where possible; Retention will also include analyzing any qualitative comments/feedback on the lessons and home practice exercises in order to gauge what participants like and don't like, and what is feasible for future iterations of this study to maximize retention.

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Weeks 1-5), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18). Data collected for the duration of the entire study.

  2. Change in Depression symptoms (PHQ-8 questionnaire) Over Time (4.5 months through study completion)

    8-items; responses range from 0 "not at all" to 3 "almost every day"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  3. Change in Depression symptoms (CES-D questionnaire) Over Time

    20-items; responses range from 1 "rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)" to 3 "occasionally or a moderate amount of the time (3-4 days)"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

Secondary outcomes (15)
  1. Change in Stress: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS questionnaire) Over Time

    10-items; responses range from 1 "never" to 5 "very often"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  2. Change in Positive and Negative Affect (DES questionnaire) Over Time ("past week")

    26-items; responses range from 1 "not at all" to 9 "all the time"; framed as "Over the PAST week, how much have you felt each of these emotions?"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  3. Change in Mindfulness Over Time: Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)

    7-items; responses range from 1 "never or rarely true" to 5 "very often or always true"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  4. Change in Prioritizing Positivity Over Time (Prioritizing Positivity Scale)

    6-items; responses range from 1 "disagree strongly" to 9 "agree strongly"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  5. Skills Use Questionnaire (measuring change in application/use of positive affect skills over 4.5 months)

    10-items; responses range from 1 "definitely false" to 5 "definitely true"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  6. Change in Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) over time (4.5 months of participation in the study)

    6-items of self-reported resilience; responses range from 1 "strongly disagree" to 5 "strongly agree"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  7. Change in Depression Self Stigma Scale (DSSS) over time (4.5 months of participation in the study)

    32-item scale to measure self stigma of depression; responses range from 1 "completely disagree" to 7 "completely agree"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  8. Change in Meaning and Purpose Scale over time (4.5 months of participation in the study)

    8-item scale with 5 response options ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  9. Change in Positive Affect and Well-Being Short Form from the Neuro-QOL Item Bank

    9-item scale measuring positive affect and well-being with 5 response options: "never" "rarely" "sometimes" "often" "always"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  10. Change in General Behavior Inventory (GBI) Scale

    7-item instrument assessing for symptoms of mania with 7 response options: 0 "Never or hardly ever," 1 "Sometimes," 2 "Often," 3 "Very Often," 7 "Don't Know," 8 "Refuse to Answer," 9 "Not applicable." The 7 items include questions such as: "Have there been times lasting several days or more when you felt you must have lots of excitement, and you actually did a lot of new or different things?"

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  11. Change in Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS)

    9-item instrument that measures the impact of behavioral activation on depressive symptoms. Response items range from 0 to 6, from "Not at all" to "Completely." Statements include: "I was an active person and accomplished the goals I set out to do" and "I did things that were enjoyable."

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  12. Change in Stress Management Self-Efficacy (SMSE)

    4-item instrument that measures the impact of stress on depressive symptoms. Response scale ranges from 1 "strongly agree" to 4 "strongly disagree." Items include: 1) I believe I have the ability to cope with the demands of my life 2) I know when I'm starting to experience too much stress 3) I know how to cope with stress when it comes and 4) I am usually able to successfully deal with my stress levels.

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  13. Expectancy Credibility Scale

    6-item instrument that measures how expectancy and credibility might influence participants' responses. Responses range from 1 "Not at all" to 9 "Very." Statements include: "At this point, how logical does this course seem to you?" or "At this point, how much do you really feel that the course will help you to improve your functioning?"

    Measured: Administered once at the initial questionnaire prior to Week 1 of the intervention.

  14. Change in Self Compassion Scale (SCS) Short-Form

    12-item instrument assesses levels of self-compassion. Response items range from 1 "Almost never" to 5 "Almost always." Statements include: "I try to see my failings as part of the human condition" and "When something painful happens I try to take a balanced view of the situation."

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

  15. Change in Self-Stigma Depression Scale (SSDS)

    16-item instrument that assesses levels of self-stigma surrounding depressive symptoms. This measure will be used to replace the DSSS from the pilot phase of the study.

    Measured: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18).

Timeline

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

  1. First posted10 Aug 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study startAug 2016
  3. Primary completionAug 2018
  4. Study completionAug 2018

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
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
677 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02861755
Sponsor's protocol ID
STU00092507
Other IDs
R34MH101265-02
Acronym
MARIGOLD
Status last verified
Oct 2023
First submitted
13 Jun 2016
Last updated
27 Oct 2023
Results posted
No

Publications

  • Moskowitz JT, Hult JR, Duncan LG, Cohn MA, Maurer S, Bussolari C, Acree M. A positive affect intervention for people experiencing health-related stress: development and non-randomized pilot test. J Health Psychol. 2012 Jul;17(5):676-92. doi: 10.1177/1359105311425275. Epub 2011 Oct 21.

    PubMed 22021272
  • Moskowitz JT, Jackson K, Freedman ME, Grote VE, Kwok I, Schuette SA, Cheung EO, Addington EL. Positive Psychological Intervention Effects on Depression: Positive Emotion Does Not Mediate Intervention Impact in a Sample with Elevated Depressive Symptoms. Affect Sci. 2022 Oct 6;4(1):163-173. doi: 10.1007/s42761-022-00140-7. eCollection 2023 Mar.

    PubMed 37070017
  • Moskowitz JT, Addington EL, Shiu E, Bassett SM, Schuette S, Kwok I, Freedman ME, Leykin Y, Saslow LR, Cohn MA, Cheung EO. Facilitator Contact, Discussion Boards, and Virtual Badges as Adherence Enhancements to a Web-Based, Self-guided, Positive Psychological Intervention for Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2021 Sep 22;23(9):e25922. doi: 10.2196/25922.

    PubMed 34550076
  • Cheung EO, Addington EL, Bassett SM, Schuette SA, Shiu EW, Cohn MA, Leykin Y, Saslow LR, Moskowitz JT. A Self-Paced, Web-Based, Positive Emotion Skills Intervention for Reducing Symptoms of Depression: Protocol for Development and Pilot Testing of MARIGOLD. JMIR Res Protoc. 2018 Jun 5;7(6):e10494. doi: 10.2196/10494.

    PubMed 29871853

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Positive Affect Skills Training and 5-week Emotion Reporting in people with Depression and Psychological Stress, run by Northwestern University 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 0 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 27 Oct 2023. 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. 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?

Change in Retention Over Time (average of 4.5 months through study completion) (time frame: From the start of the 5-week online intervention (Weeks 1-5), post-intervention (Week 6), 1 month followup (Week 10), 3 month followup (Week 18). Data collected for the duration of the entire study.). The study lists 3 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 NCT02861755, which also lists 4 linked publications.

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 27 Oct 2023.

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