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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04350814

The Self-Compassion Online - Preventing Depression Trial

Purpose: Depression affects 12.6% of Canadians at some point in their life. Depression is associated with staggering personal and economic costs. There are several treatments that have been shown to treat episodes of depression when they occur. Unfortunately, more than half who respond to these treatments go on to re-experience an episode of depression. Even with psychological and pharmacological interventions designed to prevent future episodes, relapse and recurrence of the disorder remain alarmingly high. A patient-focused and self-directed intervention that harnesses the effects of an Eastern-influenced concept, called self-compassion, has shown tremendous promise in treating acute depression. Self-compassion is being moved by one's own suffering, and a desire to alleviate such suffering.

Objectives: In the proposed project, the investigators will examine whether a self-compassion intervention is effective in preventing relapse/recurrence of depression over a 12-month period among people who are at high risk for relapse. The investigators will also examine whether the intervention works to prevent depression by increasing the innate ability to bounce back from stress, a concept known as resilience.

Methodology: 120 participants with a history of depression will be randomly assigned to the self-compassion intervention or a self-assessment reflection condition, and their respective relapse rates will be examined over a period of 12 months.

Importance to Research: This will be the first study to examine the effects of self-compassion as a preventive intervention for depression.

Impact on health: If successful, this new intervention can be used by thousands of people in Saskatchewan and Canada who are at risk for depression relapse.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms

Age range

18 year–79 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • To be eligible to participate in the study, participants must be: a) 18 years old or older; b) have experienced at least one episode of depression; and c) exhibit elevated residual symptoms of depression-as indicated by a score of 5 or more on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001). As the majority of people experience both depression and anxiety symptoms concurrently, participants experiencing elevated anxiety symptoms will not be excluded from the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants will be excluded from the study if they indicate: a) a current diagnosis MDD, substance use disorder, psychosis, or mania in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013); b) the presence of major health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypothyroidism, etc.); and c) currently undergoing psychological or pharmacological treatment at the time of recruitment

Treatment and study plan

Self-Compassion Step by Step

Behavioral

This is a 6-lesson self-guided audio program by Dr. Kristen Neff (2013)

Self-Reflection Active Control

Behavioral

Participants randomized to this active control condition will be asked to complete study measures at the same intervals as those assigned to the intervention condition. In addition to completing study questionnaires, participants in this arm will also be invited to reflect on their weekly reported symptoms, whether they experienced changed, what they believe these changes are attributed to, etc.

Primary outcomes

  1. Longitudinal Interval Follow-UP Evaluation - Structured Clinical Interview (LIFE-SCID)

    Time frame: 12 Months

    Proportional rates of individuals meeting criteria for major depression episode in accordance with the LIFE-SCID post randomization over 12-months across two conditions.

    This measure is a diagnostic interview: Outcomes are binary (diagnosis vs. no diagnosis)

  2. Weeks to Relapse

    Time frame: 12 Months

    Time in weeks to confirmed MDE relapse during the assessment period

    This is a linear calculation of how many weeks participants stayed diagnosis free (higher is more weeks without a depressive relapse/recurrence).

  3. Scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 over 12-months

    Time frame: 12 Months

    Differences in depressive symptoms among those randomized to the intervention or active control condition at the 12-month assessment period

    This measure is a diagnostic interview: Outcomes are binary (diagnosis vs. no diagnosis)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)

    Time frame: Post-intervention, 3, 6, 9, and 12 Months

    This is a measure of dispositional self-compassion. Scores range from 12-60, with higher scores indicative of greater dispositional self-compassion.

  2. Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-15

    Time frame: Post-intervention, 3, 6, 9, and 12 Months

    This is a measure of dispositional mindfulness skills. Scores range from 15-75, with higher scores indicative of greater dispositional mindfulness.

  3. Experiences Questionnaire-Decentering

    Time frame: Post-intervention, 3, 6, 9, and 12 Months

    This is a measure of dispositional decentring abilities (viewing all experiences, including internal experiences, as passing events). Scores range from 12-48, with higher scores indicative of greater decentring.

  4. Fears of Compassion Scales (FCS)

    Time frame: Post-intervention, 3, 6, 9, and 12 Months

    This is a measure of the fear of showing one's self compassion. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicative of greater fears of self compassion.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Regina

Other

Collaborators

  • Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation
  • University of Amsterdam
  • University of Oxford

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of a Self-Compassion Intervention to Prevent Relapse and Recurrence of Depression: Fostering Trait Resilience to Disrupt the Cycle of Depression

Acronym: SCOPE

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 17, 2020
Registry last updated
May 8, 2024

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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