Tackling chronic depression (TACK) Phase II (v1.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Testing a technology-supported and solution-focused intervention (DIALOG+) for people with chronic depression: a cluster randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
263211
Contact name
Victoria Bird
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East London NHS Foundation Trust (noclor)
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN11301686
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 26 days
Research summary
This research aims to develop a new approach to help people with depression. Depression is a common mental health problem affecting one in four people at some point in their life. It can result in high levels of distress, increased suicide risk and a loss of interest in daily activities. Most people with depression find treatment helpful. However for some people (about one in five), depression continues for more than two years, despite receiving mental health treatment. This is called “chronic depression”. Approaches for chronic depression are limited, and people often continue to have a poor quality of life. In previous research we developed an intervention called “DIALOG+” which helped patients with another serious mental illness called schizophrenia. DIALOG+ involved mental health staff using a tablet computer to ask patients about their satisfaction with different areas of life and then working together to find solutions to concerns raised. After using DIALOG+, patients were more satisfied with life and had fewer symptoms. Patients and staff found the approach helpful and it saved the NHS money.
The second phase of the TACK programme seeks to assess the effectiveness of DIALOG+ for patients with chronic depression on improving quality of life and clinical outcomes (such as depression symptoms). The intervention will be tested in routine meetings across six sites in England. We will also evaluate how cost-effective the intervention is within the NHS.
Further, we will determine what aspects of the intervention work well or not so well in order to improve training materials and resources for staff.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
19/WA/0160
Date of REC Opinion
20 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion