CompletedNot Applicable

Mental Health Mobile Apps for Adults

Hong Kong234 participantsStarted 2023-08-01

Plain-language summary

In Hong Kong, the shortage of mental health professionals has been a public health concern for many decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends self-care intervention as one of the most promising and exciting new approaches to improve health and well-being. Rapid development in digital technologies is making population-based self-care interventions possible. The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to provide brief advice of a list of mental health mobile apps for reducing depressive symptoms and anxiety in adults. Participants will be instructed to use four mobile apps for 10 min each day for 30 days. They have freedom to choose which one app to use, or a mix of two or three apps. The Waitlist control group will not receive treatment from the research team during the assessment period. But they will be notified their evaluation results (mild to moderate depression) after they complete the baseline assessment. They will receive the information about mental health hotline services for general public. The hypothesis is that the interventions show preliminary effectiveness in reducing adults' depressive and/or anxiety symptoms.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years or above * Have mild to moderate depression (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) - 9, score 5-14) and/or anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - 7, score 5-14) * Hong Kong residents who can communicate in Chinese (Cantonese) * Own a smart phone Exclusion Criteria: * Physically or mentally unable to communicate * Currently taking antidepressant or anxiolytic medication or receiving active psychotherapy in the past 3 months

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Changes in depressive symptoms

Timeframe: T1: baseline; T2: immediate post-intervention (1-month after baseline); T3: 3-month after the intervention

Changes in anxiety symptoms

Timeframe: T1: baseline; T2: immediate post-intervention (1-month after baseline); T3: 3-month after the intervention

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06099301

SponsorHong Kong Metropolitan University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-08-26

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Depressive Symptoms trials