In a previous study (https://osf.io/qdznc), the research team found that an 8-minute version of a single-session intervention for loneliness was more effective than a 23-minute version of it. The present work aims to further explore the relationship between intervention duration and effectiveness. In this online trial, participants will be randomized to a 15-minute single-session depression intervention called the Action Brings Change (ABC) Program, a 10-minute version of it, a 6-minute version of it, or a 2-minute version of it. The main analysis will evaluate how change in depressive symptoms over eight weeks differs across conditions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
1,145
The ABC Project is a self-guided online single-session intervention based on principles of behavioral activation. In a slightly different form intended for adolescents, it has demonstrated efficacy in several studies. Its adult version has also shown some efficacy.
This is a 10-minute shortened version of the 15-minute adult version of the ABC Project. The research team created it and pilot-tested it.
This is a 6-minute shortened version of the 15-minute adult version of the ABC Project. The research team created it and pilot-tested it.
This is a 2-minute shortened version of the 15-minute adult version of the ABC Project. The research team created it and pilot-tested it.
Northwestern University Medical Social Sciences
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Change in Patient Health Questionnaire-8 at 8 weeks (PHQ-8; Kroenke et al., 2009)
Patient Health Questionnaire-8 is a well-validated and self-administered measure to assess depression symptom severity in the general population. Participants are asked to rate how often they are bothered by 8 items (e.g., Poor appetite or overeating) on a scale of 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day). Total score can range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks post-intervention
Change in Beck Hopelessness Scale at 8 weeks (BHS-4; Perczel Forintos et al., 2013)
Beck Hopelessness Scale-4 is the 4-item version of the 20-item Beck Hopelessness scale (Beck et al. 1974). Participants will be asked to rate 4 items assessing different aspects of hopelessness (e.g., My future seems dark to me) on a scale of 0 (Absolutely disagree) to 3 (Absolutely agree). Total score can range between 0 to 12 with higher scores indicating higher hopelessness.
Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks post-intervention
Change in Beck Hopelessness Scale - 4-item at post-intervention
Beck Hopelessness Scale-4 is the 4-item version of the 20-item Beck Hopelessness scale (Beck et al. 1974). Participants will be asked to rate 4 items assessing different aspects of hopelessness (e.g., My future seems dark to me) on a scale of 0 (Absolutely disagree) to 3 (Absolutely agree). Total score can range between 0 to 12 with higher scores indicating higher hopelessness.
Time frame: Baseline to immediately post-intervention
Change in UCLA Loneliness Scale 3-item version at 8-week follow-up (ULS-3; Hughes et al., 2004)
The ULS-3 is the 3-item version of the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. The measure includes questions such as "how often do you feel left out" with responses ranging from 1 (hardly ever) to 3 (often), producing a total score between 3 and 9. Researchers have labeled people who score 3-5 as "not lonely" and those who score 6-9 as "lonely."
Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks post-intervention
Presence of an "Aha! moment" at post-intervention
The survey will ask participants if they experienced an "Aha! moment" during the SSI.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
Presence of an "Aha! moment" at 8 weeks post-intervention
The survey will ask participants if they experienced an "Aha! moment" during the SSI.
Time frame: 8 weeks post-intervention
Significance of the "Aha! moment" at immediately post-intervention
Among participants who report an Aha! Moment, the survey will ask how significant they felt that Aha! was (on a scale from 1 \[not at all significant\] - 5 \[extremely significant\]).
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
Significance of the "Aha! moment" at 8 weeks post-intervention
Among participants who report an Aha! Moment, the survey will ask how significant they felt that Aha! was (on a scale from 1 \[not at all significant\] - 5 \[extremely significant\]).
Time frame: 8 weeks post-intervention
Change in Frequency of actions and thoughts scale at post-test at 8 weeks post-intervention (FATS; Terides et al., 2016)
A 12-item measure of adaptive thoughts and behaviors, improvement in which might be a target of cognitive behavioral therapy. Range 0-48 with higher scores indicating greater frequency of adaptive thoughts and behaviors.
Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks post-intervention
Expected improvement at post-intervention (from the Credibility / Expectancy Questionnaire; Devilly, 2004)
This will be computed as the sum of two items: "At this point, how successful do you think this treatment will be in reducing your feelings of depression?" and "Over the next few weeks, how much improvement in your feelings of depression do you think will occur?"). Each item will be rated from 1-9 and will be summed together to create a total score of 2-18 with higher scores indicating greater expected improvement.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
Self-reported improvement at 8-weeks post-intervention (adapted from the Credibility/ Expectancy Questionnaire; Devilly, 2004)
This will be computed as the sum of two items: "At this point, how successful do you think this treatment was in reducing your feelings of depression?" and "Over the past eight weeks, how much improvement in your feelings of depression do you think occurred?"). Each item will be rated from 1-9 and will be summed together to create a total score of 2-18 with higher scores indicating greater improvement.
Time frame: 8 weeks post-intervention
Intervention satisfaction star rating at post-intervention
The survey will evaluate participants' satisfaction with the intervention they completed using a star rating from 1 to 5 stars, with 1 star indicating very low satisfaction and 5 stars indicating very high satisfaction.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
Intervention satisfaction star rating at 8 week follow-up
The survey will evaluate participants' satisfaction with the intervention they completed using a star rating from 1 to 5 stars, with 1 star indicating very low satisfaction and 5 stars indicating very high satisfaction.
Time frame: 8 weeks post-intervention
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