Pilot randomized controlled trial of a video self‐help intervention for depression based on acceptance and commitment therapy: Feasibility and acceptability

Abstract

A common setting where depression is identified and treated is in primary care, where there is a need for low-intensity and cost-effective interventions to be used as part of a stepped-care model. The current study involved a pilot, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial of a video self-help intervention for primary care patients based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The intervention, called LifeStories, consisted of storytelling vignettes of patients describing their use of ACTconsistent coping skills for depression. Primary care patients were recruited to determine feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical effects of the intervention.Twenty-one participants were assigned to use LifeStories over a period of 4 weeks, and 19 participants were assigned to an attention-matched comparison group. Qualitative feedback indicated that participants using LifeStories found the intervention to be engaging and useful in transmitting key ACT principles. Furthermore, those receiving LifeStories rated their level of "transportation" or immersion in the videos higher than the control group. Both conditions showed large improvements in levels of depression at a 12-week follow-up. There were no significant differences in symptom outcomes between groups; however, because this was a pilot study, it was not powered to detect differences between interventions. Both conditions additionally showed smaller effect size changes in psychological flexibility, a key ACT mechanism.The results suggest LifeStories to be a feasible and acceptable psychological intervention that may improve depression, and further research is warranted to determine its effectiveness as part of a stepped-care approach to treating depression in primary care. K E Y W O R D Sacceptance and commitment therapy, depression, mHealth, primary care, self-help, steppedcare

The efficacy and optimal matching of an Internet‐based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for depressive symptoms among university students: A randomized controlled trial in China

“…There are two possible reasons for the low dropout rates in the present study. First, on the technical level, in addition to the vividness and high interactivity of the internet‐based treatment procedure (Gaudiano et al, 2020), the system used an automatic email sending program. Before each intervention session, the computer program automatically sent a brief reminder email to the client.…”

The Impact of Video-Based Microinterventions on Attitudes Toward Mental Health and Help Seeking in Youth: Web-Based Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Video acceptability was measured using a translated and adapted 4-item version of the acceptability and likability scale used by Gaudiano et al [ 45 ]. In total, 3 items measured overall likability, comprehensibility, and interestingness of the videos on a 5-point rating scale.…”

“…Another component of previous help seeking–facilitating strategies has been storytelling. A pilot study on a video-based intervention indicated that storytelling was well accepted and perceived as engaging [ 45 ]. In addition, an RCT evaluated internet-based storytelling programs with varying interactivity and stigma-related content.…”

Feasibility and acceptability of a mobile intervention for patients with psychosis following psychiatric hospitalization: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

“…Guided by recommendations from Leon et al (2011), the primary aim of this pilot trial was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention itself as well as study procedures. We set the following a priori acceptability/feasibility benchmarks for the pilot study based on the clinical trial experience from the research team and similar to other treatment development projects (Gaudiano et al, 2020(Gaudiano et al, , 2023: average recruitment of at least two participants per month, app engagement rate ≥ 75% of the participants who used the app, drop out/loss to follow-up ≤ 20%, CSQ score ≥ average 24, significant improvement on BPRS scores over time, and no serious adverse events due to study involvement.…”