Effectiveness of a Guided Mobile App Intervention for Depression and Anxiety in University Students (PROMES-U Study)
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: MyMoodCoach.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Spain
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effectiveness of a Guided Mobile App Intervention for Depression and Anxiety in University Students: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (PROMES-U Study)
Overview
Background: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are prevalent among Spanish university students. Minimally guided online interventions have shown promise in reducing symptomatology and preventing increased mental distress. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of guided preventive mental health interventions for depression and anxiety in university students. Methods: two-arm multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT), addressed to undergraduate students from 6 public universities with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Students will be evaluated through an online survey assessing mental health problems, use of mental health services, sociodemographic variables, self-perceived health, childhood and adolescent adversities, recent stressful events, social networks, personality and university experiences. A total of 600 students will be randomly assigned to: intervention group (guided E-health prevention intervention) or control group (treatment as usual with self-monitoring). The intervention, in app format, is based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, includes weekly feedback based on content and participation from a psychologist and self-monitoring. Assessments will take place post-intervention (up to 6 weeks), at 6 months and 12 months after randomization. The primary outcome will be the reduction of depressive or anxiety symptoms post-intervention, assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS). Secondary outcomes of the RCT will be mental wellbeing, academic stress, comorbid symptoms, and adherence. Analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat and per protocol basis. Discussion: The results of the PROMES-U RCT will provide valuable information on a guided preventive online intervention that could be delivered in the campus context. In addition, results will provide information on the positive impact of the intervention on other relevant factors involved in mental health among university students.
Interventions
- Behavioral MyMoodCoach
The MyMoodCoach prevention intervention is an evidence-based online intervention based on cognitive-behavioral therapy principles such as behavioral activation, problem solving and challenging negative thoughts.
Primary outcome measures
- Change of depressive symptoms [Time frame: Up to 6 weeks, at 6 months and 12 months after randomization]
- Change of anxiety symptoms [Time frame: Up to 6 weeks and at 6 months and 12 months post randomization]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Eligible participants are all undergraduate students at the 6 participating universities and students followed in the PROMES-U observational study
- Having 18 years of age or more
- Having literacy in Spanish
- Having access to a smartphone (Android or Apple)
- With mild or moderate depression and/or anxiety symptoms screened (i.e., depression (5≤ (PHQ-9) ≤14); and/or anxiety (5≤ GAD-7 ≤14).
Exclusion criteria
- Moderately severe or severe depression and/or anxiety (i.e., PHQ-9≥15 and/or GAD-7≥15)
- High suicide risk
- A history of severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar, psychosis)
- Being on mental health treatment (i.e., medication, psychotherapy or other intervention)
Students with high suicide risk will receive a clinical alert recommending them to visit a specialist and a list of available mental health resources.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Spain · 1 center
- Miquel Roca — Palma de Mallorca
Publications
- Ballester L, Gili M, Roca M, Forteza-Rey I, Soto-Sanz V, Vilagut G, Amigo F, Moreno-Kustner B, Mortier P, Piqueras JA, Portillo-Van Diest A, Rebagliato M, Rodriguez-Jimenez T, Alonso J; PROMES-U study group. Effectiveness of a guided mobile app intervention for depression and anxiety in university students (PROMES-U study): protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. PMID 41184908
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06078007 · PI20/00006 · 2020/9198/I