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Online Support Groups for Depression and Anxiety

Sponsor
University College, London (Other)
Overall Status
Unknown status
CT.gov ID
NCT01149265
Collaborator
(none)
1,000
Enrollment
1
Location
2
Arms
9.1
Duration (Months)
110.3
Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

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

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Behavioral: Online support group
  • Behavioral: Expressive writing
 Phase 1/Phase 2

Detailed 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.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
1000 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Randomised Controlled Trial of an Existing Online Support Group for Depression and Anxiety
Study Start Date :
May 1, 2010
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Feb 1, 2011
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Feb 1, 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Online support group

Behavioral: Online support group
Expressive writing involves people writing about their thoughts and feelings, often upsetting ones, for a short period of time.
Active Comparator: Expressive writing

Behavioral: Expressive writing
Online support groups are internet forums where like-minded people give and receive both informational and emotional support.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [Zero, three and six months]

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Satisfaction with Life Scale [Zero, three and six months]

  2. The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey [Zero, three and six months]

  3. Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment [Zero, three and six months]

  4. The Illness perception questionnaire [Zero, three and six months]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes
Inclusion Criteria:

  • Self-defined depression & anxiety

  • Resident in the UK, US or Canada

  • Access to the internet

Exclusion Criteria:

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 University College London London United Kingdom WC1E 6BT

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • University College, London

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Chris Barker, University College, London

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
, ,
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01149265
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • UCL1376/001
First Posted:
Jun 23, 2010
Last Update Posted:
Jul 21, 2010
Last Verified:
Jul 1, 2010
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Depression
Depressive Disorder
Anxiety Disorders

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jul 21, 2010