MemReD - feasibility RCT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Memory Reshaping for Depression: A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial of a Novel Blended Digital Therapy
IRAS ID
355767
Contact name
Roland Zahn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN00000000
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
The aim of this Medical Research Council-funded trial is to probe the feasibility of a novel guided ("blended") digital therapy for major depression delivered remotely. The therapy programme is tailored for the large number of people who either do not engage with or disengage from currently available mental health services due to the limitations of standard treatments. Using simple self-guided strategies which can be easily implemented on a day-to-day basis is promising to meet the needs of people who are sensitive to medication side effects and who do not want to depend on others, as well as those whose symptoms prevent them from engaging in active behaviour change as required even by online versions of standard psychotherapies.
Our project proposal builds on evidence that distorted personal memories play an important role in explaining two key symptoms of depression: a diminished ability to look forward to positive experiences and feelings of self-worthlessness. The proposed novel treatment combines two previous treatments, which empower people with depression to tackle their memory distortions by 1) training memory flexibility for positive experiences (MemFlex), and 2) tackling self-blame-related memories (Blame Rebalancing).
MemFlex and Blame Rebalancing have shown promising results in our previous pilot trials, but their combination and delivery using online sessions and an app which can be accessed on people's mobile phones has not been investigated. We have developed a web-based memory reshaping (MemReD) app for this trial. In this single centre trial, participants with a major depressive disorder will be randomised to the MemReD or a standard online CBT programme for 8 weeks.
This is an indispensable step towards our long-term goal of delivering novel widely available treatments for difficult-to-treat depression.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0445
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion