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Internet-based psychodynamic versus cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescents with depression : Study protocol for a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (the ERiCA study)

Mechler, Jakob ; Lindqvist, Karin ; Carlbring, Per ; Lilliengren, Peter ; Falkenström, Fredrik ; Andersson, Gerhard ; Topooco, Naira ; Johansson, Robert ; Midgley, Nick and Edbrooke-Childs, Julian , et al. (2020) In Trials 21(1).
Abstract

Background: Adolescent depression is a common mental health problem and there is an urgent need for effective and accessible treatments. Internet-based interventions solve many obstacles for seeking and receiving treatment, thus increasing access to effective treatments. Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) for adolescent depression has demonstrated efficacy in previous trials. In order to broaden the range of evidence-based treatments for young people, we evaluated a newly developed affect-focused Internet-based psychodynamic treatment (IPDT) in a previous study with promising results. The purpose of the planned study is to evaluate the efficacy of IPDT for adolescent depression in a non-inferiority trial, comparing it... (More)

Background: Adolescent depression is a common mental health problem and there is an urgent need for effective and accessible treatments. Internet-based interventions solve many obstacles for seeking and receiving treatment, thus increasing access to effective treatments. Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) for adolescent depression has demonstrated efficacy in previous trials. In order to broaden the range of evidence-based treatments for young people, we evaluated a newly developed affect-focused Internet-based psychodynamic treatment (IPDT) in a previous study with promising results. The purpose of the planned study is to evaluate the efficacy of IPDT for adolescent depression in a non-inferiority trial, comparing it to ICBT. Methods: The study will employ a parallel randomized non-inferiority design (ratio 1:1; n = 270). Eligible participants are adolescents 15-19 years suffering from depression. The primary hypothesis is that IPDT will be non-inferior to ICBT in reducing depressive symptoms from pre-treatment to end of treatment. Secondary research questions include comparing outcomes of IPDT and ICBT regarding anxiety symptoms, emotion regulation and self-compassion. Additional data will be collected to evaluate cost-effectiveness as well as investigating predictors, moderators and mediators of outcome. In addition, we will examine long-term outcome up to 1 year after end of treatment. Diagnostic interviews with MINI 7.0 will be used to establish primary diagnosis of depression as well as ruling out any exclusion criteria. Both treatments consist of eight modules over 10 weeks, complemented with therapist support through text messages and weekly chat sessions. Primary outcome measure is the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology in Adolescents Self-Rated (QIDS-A17-SR). Primary outcome will be analysed using data from all participants entering the study using a multilevel growth curve strategy based on the weekly measurements of QIDS-A17-SR. The non-inferiority margin is defined as d = 0.30. Discussion: This trial will demonstrate whether IPDT is non-inferior to ICBT in the treatment of adolescent depression. The study might therefore broaden the range of evidence-based treatment alternatives for young people struggling with depression. Further analyses of data from this trial may increase our knowledge about "what works for whom"and the pathways of change for two distinct types of interventions. Trial registration: ISRCTN12552584, Registered on 13 August 2019.

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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescents, CBT, Depression, Internet-based treatment, Non-inferiority trial, Psychodynamic
in
Trials
volume
21
issue
1
article number
587
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:32600400
  • scopus:85087424532
ISSN
1745-6215
DOI
10.1186/s13063-020-04491-z
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ae737cf1-6057-47cb-8b95-32a85e98030a
date added to LUP
2020-07-16 11:17:21
date last changed
2024-04-17 12:33:41
@article{ae737cf1-6057-47cb-8b95-32a85e98030a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Adolescent depression is a common mental health problem and there is an urgent need for effective and accessible treatments. Internet-based interventions solve many obstacles for seeking and receiving treatment, thus increasing access to effective treatments. Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) for adolescent depression has demonstrated efficacy in previous trials. In order to broaden the range of evidence-based treatments for young people, we evaluated a newly developed affect-focused Internet-based psychodynamic treatment (IPDT) in a previous study with promising results. The purpose of the planned study is to evaluate the efficacy of IPDT for adolescent depression in a non-inferiority trial, comparing it to ICBT. Methods: The study will employ a parallel randomized non-inferiority design (ratio 1:1; n = 270). Eligible participants are adolescents 15-19 years suffering from depression. The primary hypothesis is that IPDT will be non-inferior to ICBT in reducing depressive symptoms from pre-treatment to end of treatment. Secondary research questions include comparing outcomes of IPDT and ICBT regarding anxiety symptoms, emotion regulation and self-compassion. Additional data will be collected to evaluate cost-effectiveness as well as investigating predictors, moderators and mediators of outcome. In addition, we will examine long-term outcome up to 1 year after end of treatment. Diagnostic interviews with MINI 7.0 will be used to establish primary diagnosis of depression as well as ruling out any exclusion criteria. Both treatments consist of eight modules over 10 weeks, complemented with therapist support through text messages and weekly chat sessions. Primary outcome measure is the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology in Adolescents Self-Rated (QIDS-A17-SR). Primary outcome will be analysed using data from all participants entering the study using a multilevel growth curve strategy based on the weekly measurements of QIDS-A17-SR. The non-inferiority margin is defined as d = 0.30. Discussion: This trial will demonstrate whether IPDT is non-inferior to ICBT in the treatment of adolescent depression. The study might therefore broaden the range of evidence-based treatment alternatives for young people struggling with depression. Further analyses of data from this trial may increase our knowledge about "what works for whom"and the pathways of change for two distinct types of interventions. Trial registration: ISRCTN12552584, Registered on 13 August 2019.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mechler, Jakob and Lindqvist, Karin and Carlbring, Per and Lilliengren, Peter and Falkenström, Fredrik and Andersson, Gerhard and Topooco, Naira and Johansson, Robert and Midgley, Nick and Edbrooke-Childs, Julian and J. Dahl, Hanne Sofie and Sandell, Rolf and Thorén, Agneta and Ulberg, Randi and Lindert Bergsten, Katja and Philips, Björn}},
  issn         = {{1745-6215}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescents; CBT; Depression; Internet-based treatment; Non-inferiority trial; Psychodynamic}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{Trials}},
  title        = {{Internet-based psychodynamic versus cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescents with depression : Study protocol for a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (the ERiCA study)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04491-z}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s13063-020-04491-z}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}