Vincent Israel Opoku Agyapong|Michal Juhás|Arto Öhinmaa|Joy Omeje|Kelly Mrklas|Victoria Y. M. Suen|Serdar Dursun|Andrew J. Greenshaw
Randomized controlled pilot trial of supportive text messages for patients with depression
Health Sciences Centre|University of Alberta|Health Sciences Centre|University of Alberta|Institute of Health Economics|University of Alberta|Alberta Health Services|Alberta Health Services|Alberta Health|Alberta Health Services|Health Sciences Centre|University of Alberta|Health Sciences Centre|University of Alberta
depression projected primary cause disability worldwide 2030 recent survey commonly cited unmet need among 424 depressed albertans lack sufficient accessible affordable counselling aim test efficacy supportive text messaging mobile health intervention improving treatment outcomes depressed patientswe performed singleraterblinded randomized trial involving 73 patients major depressive disorder patients intervention group n 35 received twicedaily supportive text messages 3 months control group n 38 received single text message every fortnight thanking participating study primary outcome study mean changes bdi scores baselineafter adjusting baseline bdi scores significant difference remained 3 month mean bdi scores intervention control groups 208 sd 117 vs 249 sd 115 f 1 60 483 p 003 p2 007 mean difference bdi scores change significant effect size cohens 067 furthermore adjusting baseline scores significant difference remained 3 month mean selfrated vas scores eq5d5 l scale intervention control groups 657 sd 153 vs 574 sd 229 f 1 60 416 p 005 p2 0065 mean difference change mean selfrated vas scores also statistically significant effect size cohens 051our findings suggest supportive text messages potentially useful psychological intervention depression especially underserved populations studies needed explore implications findings larger clinical samplesclinicaltrialsgov nct02327858 registered 24 december 2014