AzTrials
AzTrials

DepressionNCT01701791

Telemedicine for Depression in Primary Care

A study testing Computerized Decision Support System in people with Depression, run by IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli at 4 sites in Italy.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Background: In Italy, several recent studies found that a large percentage of patients attending Primary Care (PC) clinics meet criteria for at least one common mental disorder, as they show high rates of depression, anxiety, and co-morbid anxiety and depression. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Depression
What is being tested?
Computerized Decision Support System
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
120 participants
Where
4 sitesItaly
Study dates
Nov 2012to May 2016
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients aged 18-65 years
  • PHQ-9 score of >or=14 at baseline
  • IDS-SR score of >or=26 at baseline
  • No filling of antidepressant medication prescription for 270 prior days
  • Illiteracy or the lack of working telephone to receive reminders.

Who cannot join

  • Current diagnosis of alcohol or substance dependence
  • History of Bipolar Disorder determined by a baseline Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) screening scale of lifetime mania/hypomania
  • Any current prescription for mood stabilizer or antipsychotic medication
  • Female with positive pregnancy test
  • General medical conditions which contraindicate antidepressant medications
  • Clinical status requiring inpatient or day hospital treatment.

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country.

Italy4 sites
  • Health Telematic Network srl

    Brescia, Brescia, 25125

  • IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli

    Brescia, Brescia, 25125

  • Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università di Udine

    Udine, Udine, 33100

  • Marco B. Rocchi

    Urbino

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: The Efficacy of Telemedicine for Improving Depression Outcomes in Primary Care

Background: In Italy, several recent studies found that a large percentage of patients attending Primary Care (PC) clinics meet criteria for at least one common mental disorder, as they show high rates of depression, anxiety, and co-morbid anxiety and depression. These patients may experience significant functional impairment and suffer from unexplained somatic symptoms, and often remain undetected and untreated. Consistent evidence for the effectiveness of organized care programs for depression, by improving quality of care and treatment adherence, is now available. Fundamental elements of these programs include algorithms to prompt the proper and timely implementation of evidence-based treatments, structured outcome assessment and systematic outreach. Telemedicine tools may represent a valuable strategy for improving depression outcomes in PC.

Aims: 1.To develop and employ computer-based assessment to more accurately and timely detect patient depression in PC settings; 2.To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a care support program developed in conjunction with the PC-based assessment for patients suffering from depression, as based on two main objectives: 2a.To support GP decisions with treatment algorithms and improve the quality of GP and mental health service collaboration; 2b.To improve patient compliance and treatment adherence by using appropriate telecommunication tools and technologically advanced tools to conduct systematic routine assessment. Although much of this system will be computer-based, live telephonic and in-person contacts will also be included as needed.

Read more

Study Design: The study is a randomized controlled trial, involving four PC group clinics (GCs) located in two areas of Northern Italy. Two PC clinics will use the experimental protocol; the other two will serve as controls.

The study will compare two different conditions:

  • Group 1 (experimental): GPs will use a Computer Decision Support System with treatment algorithms and advice and supervision from a consultant psychiatrist. Patients will receive reminders via mobile texting or automatic mobile (or landline) phone calls to improve adherence to the treatment prescribed.
  • Group 2 (control): GPs will provide TAU, will make their own decisions and will therefore not use the CDSS. Patients will not receive any reminders. All enrolled patients will be administered and will fill in the IDS-SR at baseline, 3 and 6-months: the IDS-SR score will be used as a primary endpoint.
Conditions
Depression
Being tested
Computerized Decision Support System
Keywords
Depression, Primary care, Computerized decision support system, General practitioner
Medical subject headings
Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Computerized Decision Support SystemOther

Study groups in NCT01701791
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Computerized Decision Support System (CDSS)ExperimentalGPs will use a CDSS with treatment algorithms, supervision from a consultant psychiatrist, and despatch to patients of reminders via mobile texting or automatic mobile (or landline) phone calls to improve adherence to the treatment prescribed.
Receives: Other: Computerized Decision Support System
Treatment as usualNo interventionGPs will provide TAU, will make their own decisions and will therefore not use the CDSS. Patients will not receive any reminders.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Proportion of patients reaching remission

    The primary end-point will be the proportion of patients reaching remission by 6 months, as represented by an exit IDS-SR score of <or=12.

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Number of GP appointments actually attended during follow-up

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Oct 2012 (estimated)
  2. Study startNov 2012
  3. Primary completionJan 2016
  4. Study completionMay 2016 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
120 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01701791
Sponsor's protocol ID
RF-2010-2316063
Status last verified
Feb 2016
First submitted
3 Oct 2012
Last updated
24 Feb 2016
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Balestrieri M, Sisti D, Rocchi M, Rucci P, Simon G, Araya R, de Girolamo G. Effectiveness of clinical decision support systems and telemedicine on outcomes of depression: a cluster randomized trial in general practice. Fam Pract. 2020 Nov 28;37(6):731-737. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmaa077.

    PubMed 32766705

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Computerized Decision Support System in people with Depression, run by IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli at 4 sites in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Feb 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Proportion of patients reaching remission (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01701791, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Feb 2016.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in