biostudies-literatureScazufca MMinistry of Science, Technology and Innovation | Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoMedical Research CouncilRCUK | Medical Research CouncilFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloWellcome Trust1127-1133https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11031393biostudies-literatureUnknown30(4)Scalable solutions to treat depression in older adults in low-resourced settings are urgently needed. The PRODIGITAL-D pragmatic, single-blind, two-arm, individually randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of a mobile messaging psychosocial intervention in improving depressive symptomatology among older adults in socioeconomically deprived areas of Guarulhos, Brazil. Older adults (aged 60+ years) registered with 24 primary care clinics and identified with depressive symptomatology (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores ≥ 10) received the 6-week Viva Vida intervention based on psychoeducation and behavioral activation (n = 298) or a single message (n = 305). No health professional support was offered. The primary outcome was improvement from depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 < 10) at 3 months. Of the 603 participants enrolled (mean age = 65.1 years; 451 (74.8%) women), 527 (87.4%) completed the follow-up assessment. In the intervention arm, 109 of 257 (42.4%) participants had an improved depressive symptomatology, compared with 87 of 270 (32.2%) participants in the control arm (adjusted odds ratio = 1.57; 95% confidence interval = 1.07-2.29; P = 0.019). No severe adverse events related to trial participation were observed. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a digital messaging psychosocial intervention in the short-term improvement from depressive symptomatology that can potentially be integrated into primary care programs for treating older adults with depression. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials registration: ReBEC ( RBR-4c94dtn ).Nature medicineSelf-help mobile messaging intervention for depression among older adults in resource-limited settings: a randomized controlled trial.PMC110313932020/14768-12018/19343-92017/50094–22021/10148-12022/05107-72020/14504-42022/08668-0307579/2019-02021/03849-32020/02272-1MR/R006229/12021/04493-82021/04230-7Hollingworth WDidone TVNMoretti FAScazufca MAraya ROliveira da Costa MQueiroz de Souza CHPereira LAMendes de Sa Martins MNakamura CASeward NPeters TJMacias de Oliveira GSouza Dos Santos Mvan de Ven PfalseSelf-help mobile messaging intervention for depression among older adults in resource-limited settings: a randomized controlled trial.Scalable solutions to treat depression in older adults in low-resourced settings are urgently needed. The PRODIGITAL-D pragmatic, single-blind, two-arm, individually randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of a mobile messaging psychosocial intervention in improving depressive symptomatology among older adults in socioeconomically deprived areas of Guarulhos, Brazil. Older adults (aged 60+ years) registered with 24 primary care clinics and identified with depressive symptomatology (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores ≥ 10) received the 6-week Viva Vida intervention based on psychoeducation and behavioral activation (n = 298) or a single message (n = 305). No health professional support was offered. The primary outcome was improvement from depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 < 10) at 3 months. Of the 603 participants enrolled (mean age = 65.1 years; 451 (74.8%) women), 527 (87.4%) completed the follow-up assessment. In the intervention arm, 109 of 257 (42.4%) participants had an improved depressive symptomatology, compared with 87 of 270 (32.2%) participants in the control arm (adjusted odds ratio = 1.57; 95% confidence interval = 1.07-2.29; P = 0.019). No severe adverse events related to trial participation were observed. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a digital messaging psychosocial intervention in the short-term improvement from depressive symptomatology that can potentially be integrated into primary care programs for treating older adults with depression. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials registration: ReBEC ( RBR-4c94dtn ).2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Apr2025-04-04T12:47:36.842Z2025-04-04T12:47:36.842ZS-EPMC110313933848607510.1038/s41591-024-02864-4