Randomized controlled pilot trial of supportive text messages for patients with depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depression is projected to be the primary cause of disability worldwide by 2030. In a recent survey, the most commonly cited unmet need among 42.4% of depressed Albertans was the lack of sufficient, accessible, and affordable counselling. Our aim was to test the efficacy of a supportive text messaging mobile health intervention in improving treatment outcomes in depressed patients.

Methods

We performed a single-rater-blinded randomized trial involving 73 patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Patients in the intervention group (n = 35) received twice-daily supportive text messages for 3 months while those in the control group (n = 38) received a single text message every fortnight thanking them for participating in the study. The primary outcome of this study wa

SUBMITTER: Agyapong VIO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5541655 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature