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Trials
Published in: Trials 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Mood Disorders | Study protocol

A study protocol for a randomised trial of adjunct computerised memory specificity training (c-MeST) for major depression in youth: targeting cognitive mechanisms to enhance usual care outcomes in mental health settings

Authors: D. J. Hallford, A. M. Carmichael, D. W. Austin, K. Takano, F. Raes, M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Youth depression is highly prevalent and is related to impairments in academic, social and behavioural functioning. Evidence-based treatments are available, but many young people do not respond or sufficiently recover with first-line options, and a significant proportion experience relapse. Consequently, there is clear scope to enhance intervention in this critical period of early-onset depression. Memory specificity training (MeST) is a low-intensity intervention for depression that targets reduced specificity when recalling memories of the past, a common cognitive vulnerability in depression. This randomised controlled trial will assess the efficacy of adding a computerised version of MeST (c-MeST) to usual care for youth depression.

Methods/design

Young people aged 15–25 years with a major depressive episode (MDE) will be recruited and randomised to have immediate access to the seven session online c-MeST program in addition to usual care, or to usual care and wait-list for c-MeST. The primary outcomes will be diagnostic status of an MDE and self-reported depressive symptoms assessed at baseline, 1-, 3- and 6-month intervals. Autobiographical memory specificity and other variables thought to contribute to the maintenance of reduced memory specificity and depression will be assessed as mediators of change.

Discussion

Online provision of c-MeST provides a simple, low-intensity option for targeting a cognitive vulnerability that predicts the persistence of depressive symptoms. If found to be efficacious as an adjunct to usual care for depressed youth, it could be suitable for broader roll-out, as c-MeST is highly accessible and implementation requires only minimal resources due to the online and automated nature of intervention.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12619000234​112p. Registered on the 18 February 2019. All items from the WHO Trial Registration Data Set can be found within the protocol.

Protocol version

1.0
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
A study protocol for a randomised trial of adjunct computerised memory specificity training (c-MeST) for major depression in youth: targeting cognitive mechanisms to enhance usual care outcomes in mental health settings
Authors
D. J. Hallford
A. M. Carmichael
D. W. Austin
K. Takano
F. Raes
M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-4036-6

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