Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: Helping Clients Learn New Skills

The purpose of this study is to compare two psychological treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD): cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and CBT-Skill Enhanced (CBT-SE). CBT is well-studied, research-supported treatment for depression. CBT-SE is a variant of CBT that places greater focus on helping clients to developing the skills of CBT.

The study will enroll 150 participants with MDD. Participants will be randomized to CBT or CBT-SE, with 75 participants being assigned to each condition. For both conditions, treatment will be provided over 12 weeks, with a 6 month follow-up period.

Potential participants are asked to complete an initial screening and an intake evaluation to determine eligibility. After entering the study, participants are asked to complete evaluations at 4 weeks and at 12 weeks. They are also asked to respond to self-report instruments before and after each session. Following the 12 week treatment, participants are asked to complete monthly follow-up surveys for 6 months.

The primary objectives of this study are three-fold. The first is to compare the outcomes of the two treatments. The second is to evaluate potential mediators of any treatment differences. The third is to evaluate the process of change in these two versions of CBT.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Psychotherapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 150
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
      • Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to DSM-5 criteria;
2. 18 years old or older;
3. residence in the state of Ohio;
4. access to a reliable internet connection (to participate in virtual sessions); and
5. being able and willing to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. current or past diagnosis of bipolar disorder or a psychotic disorder;
2. moderate or severe substance use in the past 6 months (where "moderate" is defined as 4-5 symptoms and "severe" is defined as 6 + symptoms of those listed in DSM-5 for each of the substance-related disorders);
3. current disorder other than MDD if it constitutes the predominant aspect of the clinical presentation and if it requires treatment other than that being offered;
4. currently participating in a treatment for an emotional disorder, including any individual psychotherapy or psychiatric medications used to treat a mood or anxiety disorders;
5. clear indication of secondary gain (e.g., court-ordered treatment); and
6. current suicide risk or significant intentional self-harm in the last six months sufficient to preclude treatment on an outpatient basis.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Cognitive behavioral therapy will be provided as described in Beck et al. (1979) and Beck (2011), with adaptations for the treatment of comorbid personality disorders as described in Beck et al. (2015).	Other: Psychotherapy; In light of COVID-19 considerations, interventions are currently being provided via telehealth technology.
Active Comparator: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Skill enhanced (CBT-SE); This condition includes a variation of CBT (as provided in the other condition) with special emphasis on helping clients to develop the skills of CBT.	Other: Psychotherapy; In light of COVID-19 considerations, interventions are currently being provided via telehealth technology.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self-Report at week 12.	The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self-Report is a 16-item self-report measure of depressive symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at every session through week 12.
Change in Cognitive Change Sustained at week 12.	The Cognitive Change Sustained is a 9-item measure designed to assess the degree to which experienced cognitive change and used cognitive and behavioral strategies in the days leading up to their session. Scores range from 0 to 54, with a higher score indicating greater cognitive change.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at every session aside from session 1 through week 12.
Change in Ways of Responding Scale at week 12.	The Ways of Responding Scale is a measure of the skills taught in CBT for depression. Participants respond to 6 hypothetical stressful situations in which their initial thoughts regarding the event are given. Quality scores range from 0 to 6, with a higher score indicating greater CBT skills.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at intake, week 4, and week 12.
Change in CBT Skills - Interview at week 12.	The CBT skills interview is a semi-structured interview based measure of CBT skills. Assessors evaluate the clients CBT skills use over the past two weeks with seven items. This interview assesses client skills in using coping strategies central to CBT. Scores range from 0 to 28, with a higher score indicating greater CBT skills.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at intake, week 4, and week 12.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Clinician version at week 12.	The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Clinician version is a 16-item measure of depressive symptom severity. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at intake, week 4, and week 12.
Change in Cognitive Change Immediate at week 12.	The Cognitive Change Sustained is a 5-item measure of the extent to which the client adopted new perspectives in session. It is completed following each session. Scores range from 0 to 30, with a higher score indicating greater cognitive change.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at every session through week 12.
Change in Competencies of Cognitive Therapy Scale - client version at week 12.	The Competencies of Cognitive Therapy Scale - client version is a 29-item self-report scale that measures three areas in which clients are expected to acquire competencies from participating in CBT: behavioral activation, coping with automatic thoughts, and knowledge of schemas or core beliefs. Scores range from 29 to 203, with a higher score indicating greater CBT skills.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at intake, week 4, and week 12.
Change in Competencies of Cognitive Therapy Scale - therapist version at week 12.	The Competencies of Cognitive Therapy Scale - therapist version is a 9-item self-report scale measures three areas in which clients are expected to acquire competencies from participating in CBT: behavioral activation, coping with automatic thoughts, and knowledge of schemas or core beliefs. Scores range from 0 to 54, with a higher score indicating greater CBT skills.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at intake, week 4, and week 12.
Change in Work Social Adjustment Scale at week 12.	The Work Social Adjustment Scale is a 5-item self-report measure of functioning. Items assess the extent to which the client's functioning is impaired with regard to the client's ability to work, manage problems at home, participate in social and private leisure activities, and form close relationships. Scores range from 0 to 40, with a higher score indicating greater impairment.	Weeks 0-12, assessments occurred at intake, week 4, and week 12.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to relapse per modified version of the Patient Health Questionnaire	The Patient Health Questionnaire is a self-report measure based on the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. A modified version termed the PHQ-9-H (i.e., we changed the wording in the instructions from "Over the past 2 weeks…" to "During the worst 2 weeks…") will be administered to treatment responders every month during the post-treatment follow-up period. Scores range from 0 to 27, with a higher score indicating greater symptom severity.	Immediately post-treatment to 6 months post treatment. Assessments occurred monthly following the posttreatment evaluation

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ohio State University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Daniel R Strunk, PhD, Ohio State University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Beck AT, Rush AJ, Shaw BF, Emery G. (1979). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. Guilford.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 11, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 8, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 19, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 12, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): December 17, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 18, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Depression; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Randomized Clinical Trial; Cognitive Behavioral Skills
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020B0354

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: We will consider requests for data sharing, pending approval from our IRB.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No