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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01882452

A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial of Memory Specificity Training (MEST) for Depression

Depression involves the tendency to recall overgeneral personal memories, a phenomenon which has been linked to numerous adverse psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a group-based Memory Specificity Training (MEST) programme improves outcomes in depression, and how this compares to an education and support control group. The primary aim is to examine whether MEST, which involves repeated practice retrieving specific autobiographical memories reduces depressive symptoms immediately post-treatment, and whether this is maintained 3 months after treatment. The secondary objective of this trial is to examine the role of hypothesised cognitive processes (ie., rumination, executive control, cognitive avoidance) which may underlie improvements in depression and memory.

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Key information

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Symptoms Mental Disorders Mood Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Aliza Werner-Seidler

Sydney, 2022, Australia

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Principal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
  • History of more than one previous depressive episode
  • Current diagnosis of a Major Depressive Episode
  • Depressive symptoms rated in the mild-severe range (> 13 on the BDI-II)
  • Memory specificity < .70 (as assessed on the AMT)

Exclusion criteria

  • Head trauma
  • Organic brain damage
  • Secondary diagnosis of another affective disorder
  • Psychosis
  • Current drug or alcohol abuse or dependence
  • A diagnosed Axis II disorder

Treatment and study plan

Memory Specificity Training

Behavioral

This intervention is a manualised, structured treatment delivered over 5 x 60 minute sessions to groups of 5-8 individuals. This treatment involves repeated practice of retrieving specific autobiographical memories in response to positive, negative and neutral cue words. There is a single psychoeducation component in the first session about memory difficulties common in depression which provides the rationale for this treatment. The training is supplemented by weekly homework practice.

Education and Support

Behavioral

The education-and-support comparison condition is matched with the experimental arm for length and format (ie., 5 x 60 minute weekly sessions in groups of 5-8 individuals). Groups receive a single psychoeducation component where information about depression is provided. This is followed by non-directive support where participants are encouraged to raise different kinds of events that occur each week for discussion in the group. The sessions are supplemented by a homework diary where participants will be invited to note down an event that occurs each day, which may be positive, negative, or benign and non-emotional in nature. This material will provide the basis for discussion in the weekly group meetings.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months post-treatment

    Symptom severity score

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in depressive status according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - IV (SCID-IV)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment, and 6-months post-treatment (6-month follow-up for MEST group only)

    Presence of a current Major Depressive Episode (MDE)

  2. Change from baseline in autobiographical memory specificity on Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Memory specificity level

  3. Change from baseline in depressive symptoms as measured on the BDI-II

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-treatment (approximately 6-weeks)

    Symptom severity score

  4. Depression free days following treatment according to the Longitudinal Follow-up Evaluation on the SCID-IV

    Time frame: Post-treatment and 3-month and 6-month follow-up

    Number of depression-free days

Other outcomes

  1. Change from baseline on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Symptom severity score

  2. Change from baseline on the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Hopelessness score

  3. Change from baseline on the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Tendency for avoidance score

  4. Change in baseline on Rumination Response Scale (RRS)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Tendency to ruminate score

  5. Change from baseline in performance on Means-Ends Problem Solving Task (MEPS)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Problem solving effectiveness score

  6. Change from baseline in performance on Verbal Fluency Task

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Index of executive control

  7. Change in baseline on performance on Digit Span Task

    Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment

    Working memory index

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medical Research Council

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • KU Leuven

Registry information

Acronym: MEST

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Jun 20, 2013
Registry last updated
Mar 22, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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