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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Nov 18:13:312.
doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-312.

Impact of a mobile phone and web program on symptom and functional outcomes for people with mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety and stress: a randomised controlled trial

Judith Proudfoot  1 , Janine Clarke, Mary-Rose Birch, Alexis E Whitton, Gordon Parker, Vijaya Manicavasagar, Virginia Harrison, Helen Christensen, Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Impact of a mobile phone and web program on symptom and functional outcomes for people with mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety and stress: a randomised controlled trial

Judith Proudfoot et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Mobile phone-based psychological interventions enable real time self-monitoring and self-management, and large-scale dissemination. However, few studies have focussed on mild-to-moderate symptoms where public health need is greatest, and none have targeted work and social functioning. This study reports outcomes of a CONSORT-compliant randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy of myCompass, a self-guided psychological treatment delivered via mobile phone and computer, designed to reduce mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety and stress, and improve work and social functioning.

Method: Community-based volunteers with mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety and/or stress (N = 720) were randomly assigned to the myCompass program, an attention control intervention, or to a waitlist condition for seven weeks. The interventions were fully automated, without any human input or guidance. Participants' symptoms and functioning were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up, using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

Results: Retention rates at post-intervention and follow-up for the study sample were 72.1% (n = 449) and 48.6% (n = 350) respectively. The myCompass group showed significantly greater improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress and in work and social functioning relative to both control conditions at the end of the 7-week intervention phase (between-group effect sizes ranged from d = .22 to d = .55 based on the observed means). Symptom scores remained at near normal levels at 3-month follow-up. Participants in the attention control condition showed gradual symptom improvement during the post-intervention phase and their scores did not differ from the myCompass group at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions: The myCompass program is an effective public health program, facilitating rapid improvements in symptoms and in work and social functioning for individuals with mild-to-moderate mental health problems.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN 12610000625077.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Estimated marginal DASS means for the intervention and attention control groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Estimated marginal WSAS means for the intervention and attention control groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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