Computerised memory specificity training (c-MeST) for the treatment of major depression: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionMajor depression is a prevalent and debilitating disorder, but many sufferers do not receive support or respond to current treatments. The development of easily accessible and low-intensity treatments that have clear cognitive mechanisms of change is indicated. Memory specificity training (MeST) is an intervention for depression that targets deficits in recalling detailed memories of past experiences through repeated practice of autobiographical memory retrieval. This randomised controlled trial will assess the efficacy of an online, computerised version of MeST (c-MeST).Methods and analysisAdults aged 18 and over with a current major depressive episode (MDE) will be recruited and randomised to have access to the seven session, online c-MeST programme for 2 weeks, or to a wait-list control group. The primary outcomes will be diagnostic status of MDE and self-reported depressive symptoms at postintervention. One-month and three-month follow-ups will be collected. Increases in autobiographical memory specificity will be assessed as a mediator of change, as well as other variables thought to contribute to reduced memory specificity, such as rumination and cognitive avoidance.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been granted by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee to conduct the study (ID: 2017_168). The findings will be disseminated through scholarly publications and workshops and will inform future trials, such as with an active comparator or as an adjunct treatment.Trial registration numberACTRN12618000257268; Pre-results.

Wanting and Liking: Testing the Factor Structure of The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale in Major Depression and Community Samples

“…The sample comprised participants who completed the relevant measures for this study as part of a baseline questionnaire in a separate, repeated measures study (Hallford, Austin, Raes, & Takano, 2019). Of the 502 people that commenced this baseline questionnaire, 168 were excluded for the purpose of this study as they did not complete the TEPS items.…”

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

“…The c-MeST program will comprise seven sessions based on content from validated methods of improving autobiographical memory specificity in face-to-face [20, 21] and online formats [27]. As previously described in a protocol paper from our group for a phase II trial of c-MeST [28], in each session participants will be provided with a series of positive, negative, and neutral cue words and will be asked to provide a memory of an autobiographical event prompted by the word that is specific in nature. Cue words that have been balanced for frequency, emotional valence and arousal will be presented in a randomised order across intervention sessions.…”

“…After their first attempt, participants will then be given another two opportunities to provide a specific response before the next cue word is displayed. Although previous studies have shown that brief, timelimited periods of access to c-MeST cause increases in memory specificity [26], feedback from our prior work in c-MeST in depression indicates that some participants required more time, or wanted access over longer periods [28]. Therefore, aside from being advised to avoid completing multiple sessions in one day, completion of modules will be self-paced.…”

“…Participants can access c-MeST online, which facilitates repeated practice of retrieving memories over a series of brief modules. Instantaneous, automated feedback is generated to indicate if autobiographical accounts are specific and detailed through a computerised classification algorithm trained using machine learning [25,27,28], meaning few resources are needed to implement c-MeST.…”

Direct Retrieval Bias for Categoric and Specific Memories for Negatively-Valenced Cues in Major Depression

“…The participants in this study (N = 298) provided the relevant data as part of a baseline questionnaire for a larger, repeated measures study (Hallford, Austin, Takano & Raes, 2019). The present sample comprises participants that provided adequate baseline data for inclusion in the present study, but did not provide follow-up data for inclusion in the large study.…”