@article{Deady:2022:10.1017/s0033291720002081,
author = {Deady, M and Glozier, N and Calvo, R and Johnston, D and Mackinnon, A and Milne, D and Choi, I and Gayed, A and Peters, D and Bryant, R and Christensen, H and Harvey, SB},
doi = {10.1017/s0033291720002081},
journal = {Psychological Medicine},
pages = {457--466},
title = {Preventing depression using a smartphone app: a randomized controlled trial},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291720002081},
volume = {52},
year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - BackgroundThere is evidence that depression can be prevented; however, traditional approaches face significant scalability issues. Digital technologies provide a potential solution, although this has not been adequately tested. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new smartphone app designed to reduce depression symptoms and subsequent incident depression amongst a large group of Australian workers.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted with follow-up assessments at 5 weeks and 3 and 12 months post-baseline. Participants were employed Australians reporting no clinically significant depression. The intervention group (N = 1128) was allocated to use HeadGear, a smartphone app which included a 30-day behavioural activation and mindfulness intervention. The attention-control group (N = 1143) used an app which included a 30-day mood monitoring component. The primary outcome was the level of depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9) at 3-month follow-up. Analyses were conducted within an intention-to-treat framework using mixed modelling.ResultsThose assigned to the HeadGear arm had fewer depressive symptoms over the course of the trial compared to those assigned to the control (F3,734.7 = 2.98, p = 0.031). Prevalence of depression over the 12-month period was 8.0% and 3.5% for controls and HeadGear recipients, respectively, with odds of depression caseness amongst the intervention group of 0.43 (p = 0.001, 95% CI 0.26–0.70).ConclusionsThis trial demonstrates that a smartphone app can reduce depression symptoms and potentially prevent incident depression caseness and such interventions may have a role in improving working population mental health. Some caution in interpretation is needed regarding the clinical significance due to small effect size and trial attrition.Trial Registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (www.anzctr.org.au/) ACTRN12617000548336
AU  - Deady,M
AU  - Glozier,N
AU  - Calvo,R
AU  - Johnston,D
AU  - Mackinnon,A
AU  - Milne,D
AU  - Choi,I
AU  - Gayed,A
AU  - Peters,D
AU  - Bryant,R
AU  - Christensen,H
AU  - Harvey,SB
DO  - 10.1017/s0033291720002081
EP  - 466
PY  - 2022///
SN  - 0033-2917
SP  - 457
TI  - Preventing depression using a smartphone app: a randomized controlled trial
T2  - Psychological Medicine
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291720002081
UR  - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/preventing-depression-using-a-smartphone-app-a-randomized-controlled-trial/09131AFD5C2C36534ABDFE0F885FF7C4
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/80590
VL  - 52
ER  - 

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