A mobile phone app for people receiving treatment for depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A mobile phone application to support people living in rural areas receiving antidepressant treatment for depression: initial case studies
IRAS ID
176934
Contact name
Isobel Cameron
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
na, na
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, days
Research summary
Prevalence of depression of moderate to high severity reported by The Scottish Health Survey (Scottish Health Survey, 2011) is estimated to be 7%. Worldwide, it is estimated to affect 350 million people and is predicted to be one of the highest ranked cause of disease burden in developed countries by the year 2020 (Marcus et al, 2012). Some of the main evidence-based treatments available for depression include anti-depressant medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (NICE, 2009; SIGN, 2010). Mobile phone applications (apps) have been successfully used in conditions such as asthma and diabetes. The current study focuses on case studies of patients trying an app for the management of depression intended to facilitate adherence to antidepressant medication. Previous work has shown that lack of sense of ownership of the illness, and of information about medication can lead to discontinuation of antidepressants. Therefore the mobile app in the current study proposes two main components: 1) an option for self-monitoring symptoms of the illness which involves the weekly use of a standard depression symptomotology questionnaire and the ability to monitor change in the symptoms using graphs and 2) a daily text to provide information about depression medication and/or motivation to change attitudes and behaviours in accordance with CBT. The study proposes to assess the experience of using the app with interviews of five participants with themes considered relevant to providing a quality mobile phone health service: feasibility, usability, acceptability, effectiveness, empowerment and trust (Yen & Bakken 2012, Higginson, 1994). It is hoped that the results of the study will be used to further refine the design of the app for study in a larger number of patients.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
15/NS/0050
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion