Major Depressive DisorderMESTNCT01882452
A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial of Memory Specificity Training (MEST) for Depression
A study testing Memory Specificity Training and Education and Support in people with Major Depressive Disorder and Depressive Symptoms, run by Medical Research Council at 1 site in Australia.
Trial summary
Depression involves the tendency to recall overgeneral personal memories, a phenomenon which has been linked to numerous adverse psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a group-based Memory Specificity Training (MEST) programme improves outcomes in depression, and how this compares… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Memory Specificity Training and Education and Support
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteAustralia
- Study dates
- Jul 2013to Oct 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
- Principal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
- History of more than one previous depressive episode
- Current diagnosis of a Major Depressive Episode
- Depressive symptoms rated in the mild-severe range (> 13 on the BDI-II)
- Memory specificity < .70 (as assessed on the AMT)
Who cannot join
- Head trauma
- Organic brain damage
- Secondary diagnosis of another affective disorder
- Psychosis
- Current drug or alcohol abuse or dependence
- A diagnosed Axis II disorder
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Depression involves the tendency to recall overgeneral personal memories, a phenomenon which has been linked to numerous adverse psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a group-based Memory Specificity Training (MEST) programme improves outcomes in depression, and how this compares to an education and support control group. The primary aim is to examine whether MEST, which involves repeated practice retrieving specific autobiographical memories reduces depressive symptoms immediately post-treatment, and whether this is maintained 3 months after treatment. The secondary objective of this trial is to examine the role of hypothesised cognitive processes (ie., rumination, executive control, cognitive avoidance) which may underlie improvements in depression and memory.
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Symptoms
- Being tested
- Memory Specificity Training, Education and Support
- Keywords
- Memory specificity training, Autobiographical memory, Major depressive disorder
- Medical subject headings
- Depressive Disorder, Major, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Memory Specificity TrainingBehavioural
This intervention is a manualised, structured treatment delivered over 5 x 60 minute sessions to groups of 5-8 individuals. This treatment involves repeated practice of retrieving specific autobiographical memories in response to positive, negative and neutral cue words. There is a single psychoeducation component in the first session about memory difficulties common in depression which provides the rationale for this treatment. The training is supplemented by weekly homework practice.
Education and SupportBehavioural
The education-and-support comparison condition is matched with the experimental arm for length and format (ie., 5 x 60 minute weekly sessions in groups of 5-8 individuals). Groups receive a single psychoeducation component where information about depression is provided. This is followed by non-directive support where participants are encouraged to raise different kinds of events that occur each week for discussion in the group. The sessions are supplemented by a homework diary where participants will be invited to note down an event that occurs each day, which may be positive, negative, or benign and non-emotional in nature. This material will provide the basis for discussion in the weekly group meetings.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Specificity Training | Experimental | Five weekly one-hour sessions of memory specificity training administered in groups of 5-8 participants. Receives: Behavioral: Memory Specificity Training |
| Education and Support | Active comparator | Five weekly one-hour sessions of an education-and-discussion supportive intervention, administered in groups of 5-8 participants. Receives: Behavioral: Education and Support |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)
Symptom severity score
Measured: Change from baseline to 3 months post-treatment
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change in depressive status according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - IV (SCID-IV)
Presence of a current Major Depressive Episode (MDE)
Measured: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment, and 6-months post-treatment (6-month follow-up for MEST group only)
Change from baseline in autobiographical memory specificity on Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT)
Memory specificity level
Measured: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms as measured on the BDI-II
Symptom severity score
Measured: Change from baseline to post-treatment (approximately 6-weeks)
Depression free days following treatment according to the Longitudinal Follow-up Evaluation on the SCID-IV
Number of depression-free days
Measured: Post-treatment and 3-month and 6-month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jun 2013 (estimated)
- Study startJul 2013
- Primary completionAug 2016
- Study completionOct 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Major Depressive DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical Research Council
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Collaborators
- KU Leuven
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Professor Tim Dalgleish, Medical Research Council
- Investigators
- Tim Dalgleish, PhD, Principal investigator, Medical Research Council
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01882452
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MEST-UK
- Acronym
- MEST
- Status last verified
- Mar 2018
- First submitted
- 18 Jun 2013
- Last updated
- 22 Mar 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Werner-Seidler A, Hitchcock C, Bevan A, McKinnon A, Gillard J, Dahm T, Chadwick I, Panesar I, Breakwell L, Mueller V, Rodrigues E, Rees C, Gormley S, Schweizer S, Watson P, Raes F, Jobson L, Dalgleish T. A cluster randomized controlled platform trial comparing group MEmory specificity training (MEST) to group psychoeducation and supportive counselling (PSC) in the treatment of recurrent depression. Behav Res Ther. 2018 Jun;105:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Mar 15.
PubMed 29587159Dalgleish T, Bevan A, McKinnon A, Breakwell L, Mueller V, Chadwick I, Schweizer S, Hitchcock C, Watson P, Raes F, Jobson L, Werner-Seidler A. A comparison of MEmory Specificity Training (MEST) to education and support (ES) in the treatment of recurrent depression: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Jul 22;15:293. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-293.
PubMed 25052061
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Mar 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial of Memory Specificity Training (MEST) for Depression
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01882452
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MEST / MEST-UK
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Symptoms
- Keywords
- Memory specificity training, Autobiographical memory, Major depressive disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical Research CouncilOther government
- Collaborators
- KU Leuven
- Study start
- Jul 2013
- Primary completion
- Aug 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- Oct 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Jun 2013 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Depression involves the tendency to recall overgeneral personal memories, a phenomenon which has been linked to numerous adverse psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a group-based Memory Specificity Training (MEST) programme improves outcomes in depression, and how this compares to an education and support control group. The primary aim is to examine whether MEST, which involves repeated practice retrieving specific autobiographical memories reduces depressive symptoms immediately post-treatment, and whether this is maintained 3 months after treatment. The secondary objective of this trial is to examine the role of hypothesised cognitive processes (ie., rumination, executive control, cognitive avoidance) which may underlie improvements in depression and memory.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Specificity Training | Experimental | Behavioral: Memory Specificity TrainingFive weekly one-hour sessions of memory specificity training administered in groups of 5-8 participants. |
| Education and Support | Active comparator | Behavioral: Education and SupportFive weekly one-hour sessions of an education-and-discussion supportive intervention, administered in groups of 5-8 participants. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Principal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
- History of more than one previous depressive episode
- Current diagnosis of a Major Depressive Episode
- Depressive symptoms rated in the mild-severe range (> 13 on the BDI-II)
- Memory specificity < .70 (as assessed on the AMT)
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Head trauma
- Organic brain damage
- Secondary diagnosis of another affective disorder
- Psychosis
- Current drug or alcohol abuse or dependence
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Specificity TrainingThis intervention is a manualised, structured treatment delivered over 5 x 60 minute sessions to groups of 5-8 individuals. This treatment involves repeated practice of retrieving specific autobiographical memories in response to positive, negative and neutral cue words. There is a single psychoeducation component in the first session about memory difficulties common in depression which provides the rationale for this treatment. The training is supplemented by weekly homework practice. | Behavioural | Memory Specificity Training |
| Education and SupportThe education-and-support comparison condition is matched with the experimental arm for length and format (ie., 5 x 60 minute weekly sessions in groups of 5-8 individuals). Groups receive a single psychoeducation component where information about depression is provided. This is followed by non-directive support where participants are encouraged to raise different kinds of events that occur each week for discussion in the group. The sessions are supplemented by a homework diary where participants will be invited to note down an event that occurs each day, which may be positive, negative, or benign and non-emotional in nature. This material will provide the basis for discussion in the weekly group meetings. | Behavioural | Education and Support |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months post-treatment
Symptom severity score
4 secondary outcomes
Change in depressive status according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - IV (SCID-IV)
Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment, and 6-months post-treatment (6-month follow-up for MEST group only)
Change from baseline in autobiographical memory specificity on Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT)
Time frame: Change from baseline at end of treatment (approximately 6 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms as measured on the BDI-II
Time frame: Change from baseline to post-treatment (approximately 6-weeks)
Depression free days following treatment according to the Longitudinal Follow-up Evaluation on the SCID-IV
Time frame: Post-treatment and 3-month and 6-month follow-up
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Mar 2018.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29587159Werner-Seidler A, Hitchcock C, Bevan A, McKinnon A, Gillard J, Dahm T, Chadwick I, Panesar I, Breakwell L, Mueller V, Rodrigues E, Rees C, Gormley S, Schweizer S, Watson P, Raes F, Jobson L, Dalgleish T. A cluster randomized controlled platform trial comparing group MEmory specificity training (MEST) to group psychoeducation and supportive counselling (PSC) in the treatment of recurrent depression. Behav Res Ther. 2018 Jun;105:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Mar 15.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25052061Dalgleish T, Bevan A, McKinnon A, Breakwell L, Mueller V, Chadwick I, Schweizer S, Hitchcock C, Watson P, Raes F, Jobson L, Werner-Seidler A. A comparison of MEmory Specificity Training (MEST) to education and support (ES) in the treatment of recurrent depression: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Jul 22;15:293. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-293.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tim Dalgleish, PhD principal investigator
Medical Research Council
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Memory Specificity Training and Education and Support in people with Major Depressive Disorder and Depressive Symptoms, run by Medical Research Council at 1 site in Australia.
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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Mar 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Australia. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) (time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months post-treatment). 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 NCT01882452, which also lists 2 linked publications.
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 22 Mar 2018; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 1 Nov 2026.