E-Compared (version 1.11)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
E-COMPARED - Internet Supported CBT for Depression: A randomised, pragmatic, feasibility trial
IRAS ID
172186
Contact name
Ricardo Araya
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 19 days
Research summary
In 2010, 30 million people across Europe were affected by depression and their number is still growing. About a quarter of the UK population will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year, with mixed anxiety and depression as the most common mental disorders (The Office for National Statistics 2001). Half of people in need of mental care for depression do not have access to care services, do not always receive evidence based treatments, or are confronted with long waiting lists or high care expenditure (McCrone et al. 2008). Internet-supported treatments have the potential to address the drawbacks of standard care and keep depression treatment of high quality and affordable.
The European funded project E-COMPARED will conduct a non-inferiority trial comparing the clinical and cost effectiveness of a blended face-face to-face and internet based therapy for depression with standard care, for individuals who have a diagnosis of Major Depressive Syndrome. Participants will be recruited through Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services in London and will be randomly allocated to the intervention (internet supported therapy) arm or control (treatment as usual) arm.
Internet supported blended depression treatment combines individual face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with CBT delivered through an internet based treatment platform with mobile phone components. The core components of the CBT treatment are: (1) psycho-education, (2) cognitive restructuring, (3) behavioural activation, and (4) relapse prevention. Blended depression treatment will be provided by IAPT therapists who will receive training on how to deliver the treatment.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0511
Date of REC Opinion
17 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion