Clinical trial investigating new tools to improve psychological treatment of young people with depression

Clinical trial investigating new tools to improve psychological treatment of young people with depression

Some studies have shown alarming numbers of young people suffering from symptoms of depression. "We are talking about numbers that reach up to 60-80% of young people, including those diagnosed with mild symptoms. And the numbers have probably increased with the pandemic," explained Adrián Montesano, researcher and member of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). “Symptoms are mild in most cases, but we know that the earlier these problems are treated, the less likely they are to persist or worsen in the long term,” Montesano said.

A clinical study coordinated by Montesano with Professor of the UB Faculty of Psychology and the UB Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro) Guillem Feixas will study new tools to try to improve the psychological treatment of these people. The study examines the benefits of personal construct therapy in young people between the ages of 18 and 29 with mild or moderate depression symptoms. It will also examine whether it is more effective when implemented in conjunction with a new and groundbreaking virtual reality application. The trial is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Personal construct therapy focuses primarily on how people construct their reality and the meaning they give to the things that happen to them and the people around them.

Adrián Montesano, researcher and member of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Results over the past few decades have been positive, but "this is the first trial used specifically on young people with depressive symptoms," he added. Its effectiveness is compared to that of cognitive behavioral therapy, which is considered a benchmark therapy and is based primarily on observable behaviors.

Virtual reality applications have also been tried in exposure therapies to treat some types of phobias, but “this is the first time that they are being explored in the treatment of depression and in psychotherapy in general,” confirmed Montesano. The app, called EYME, is a groundbreaking development from the University of Barcelona. The system uses a previous interview to transform the meanings and important people in the individual's identity into a 3D space in the form of spheres and words. According to Montesano, this means that it is possible to “accompany the person on a journey through their mind, through their universe of meanings and personal values, promoting therapeutic conversations.” The algorithms used are based on work done over two decades and we believe it could have added value for young people for whom it can improve adherence and the attractiveness of psychotherapy.”

One of the keys to psychological therapy is patient involvement. Different types of psychotherapy have comparable overall effectiveness rates, but approximately 35% of patients discontinue treatment before it is considered complete. If the clinical trial is positive, it would help expand the range of options available. “Being able to personalize treatment based on personal preferences is critical,” Montesano said.

The trial has already begun and the first patients are already being treated at the participating universities as well as in the health centers and hospitals associated with the project. This will involve 225 patients and recruitment will continue until early 2023. The candidates are young people between 18 and 29 years old with mild or moderate symptoms of depression, who will be offered “free therapy sessions of high scientific quality, carried out by experienced professionals, as part of the study,” explained Montesano. Volunteers can register on the project website.

“Interventions and research in psychotherapy have traditionally focused on the most severe forms, which has sometimes resulted in young people being underrepresented,” Montesano acknowledged. "Today we know that the earlier the problem is addressed, the better the long-term results. Therefore, the trend must be reversed. This is already happening in society, and it must also happen in research," he concluded.

Source:

University of Oberta de Catalunya

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