ICBT for Depression in Older Adults (ALM)

February 25, 2022 updated by: Gerhard Andersson, Linkoeping University

TAILORED INTERNET-DELIVERED COGNTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR DEPRESSED OLDER ADULTS: A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

The study was a randomized controlled trial investigating treatment effects against an active control condition. 101 self-recruited participants, aged 65 to 88 years, were included. The intervention was a 10-week internet-based tailored CBT protocol consisting of 6-10 pre-defined modules tailored to patient profile and preferences. Participants in the treatment group benefitted more than participants in the control condition on almost all measures with moderate between-group effect-sizes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Depression in older adults is associated with poorer functioning, worsened cognitive impairment and disability, as well as medical illnesses. It can also increase the risk of suicide and is associated with a high usage of medical services. It is common that depressive symptoms co-occur with other psychiatric symptoms (i.e. anxiety). In the case of co-morbidity, patients present with greater difficulties and the problems tend to be more persistent. Together this stresses the importance of developing effective treatments. Psychological treatments can be effective but are rarely offered and thus alternative modes of treatment delivery should be considered such as internet interventions. Design: The study was a randomized controlled trial investigating treatment effects against an active control condition. Participants: 101 self-recruited participants, aged 65 to 88 years, were included. Intervention: The intervention was a 10-week internet-based tailored CBT protocol consisting of 6-10 pre-defined modules tailored to patient profile and preferences. Measurements: Depression, anxiety, life quality and cognitive decline were assessed through self-reported measures together with an online test of cognitive flexibility. Results: Participants in the treatment group benefitted more than participants in the control condition on almost all measures with moderate between-group effect-sizes. Cognitive decline improved during treatment and neither cognitive decline, nor cognitive flexibility predicted treatment outcome. Conclusion: The study adds to the evidence of internet-delivered psychological treatment for depression, with or without psychiatric comorbidities, in older adults. It also highlights the possibility of perceived cognitive decline as being part of the clinical picture and reversible, rather than reason for exclusion from for psychological treatment.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
101

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Sweden
    • Östergötland
      • Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden, 58183
        • Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age 65 years or older
  • presence of depressive symptoms
  • living in Sweden
  • access to the internet and a computer on a regular basis.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • heightened suicidal ideation
  • drug or alcohol abuse or dependency
  • other ongoing psychological treatment
  • severe psychiatric or cognitive problems
  • unstable psychopharmacological medication

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Treatment
Therapist-guided internet treatment.
Behavioral: Internet-delivered tailored cognitive behavior therapy
Therapists-supported tailored 10-week treatment for depression in older adults.
Other Names:
  • ICBT
Active Comparator: Attention control
Non-directive supportive contact via email.
Behavioral: Internet-delivered tailored cognitive behavior therapy
Therapists-supported tailored 10-week treatment for depression in older adults.
Other Names:
  • ICBT

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Time Frame: Change pre to 10-week post
GDS scores range between 0 and 15, and five or less are considered within normal range
Change pre to 10-week post

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Beck Depression Inventory II
Time Frame: Change pre to 10-week post
For the 21 item BDI-II the maximum score is 63 points and scores below 14 are considered minimal depression.
Change pre to 10-week post

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Linkoeping University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 25, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 8, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 8, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Alm study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

On request and in collaboration.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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