Online Tool with Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Depression

Overseen By Alexander Daros, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Windsor

Disqualifiers: Psychosis, Mania, Intoxication, others

Stay on Your Current Meds You can continue your current medications while participating

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 12 weeks

24 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study aims to provide access to an adjunct intervention alongside standard group DBT services to examine feasibility, acceptability, and potential added efficacy of the adjunct. The adjunct intervention is an online tool based on DBT skills training and was already evaluated as a self-guided intervention. Participants will complete a baseline session and be given immediate access to the adjunct intervention. Participants will be followed for 12 weeks and complete assessments every 4 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals struggling with alcoholism, substance use disorders, depression, or anxiety. Participants should already be receiving standard group Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services and are interested in an additional online tool to support their treatment.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 16 and 70 years old.

Past year alcohol or substance use disorder

I have started DBT therapy within the last 15 days or am about to start.

Exclusion Criteria

Any known practical factors that would preclude participation (e.g., extended absences) in the study

Participation in another treatment/intervention study

Acute psychiatric (e.g., psychosis, mania) or medical condition (including acute intoxication or withdrawal requiring medical attention) that precludes participation in this study

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (telephone)

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline session via video conferencing, including a brief interview and questionnaires

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment

Participants use the Pocket Skills 2.0 app alongside standard DBT group treatment

12 weeks

Self-guided, with app usage at least twice a week

Follow-up

Participants complete follow-up assessments at weeks 4, 8, and 12

12 weeks

3 visits (remote assessments)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Pocket Skills Adjunct

Trial Overview The study tests an online adjunct intervention based on DBT skills training. It's designed to see if adding this tool to regular group therapy sessions helps people more than the therapy alone over a period of 12 weeks with assessments every 4 weeks.

Participant Groups

Group I: Adjunct Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The intervention is called Pocket Skills 2.0, which is a web-based dialectical behavior therapy skills training (DBT-ST) intervention. The content and material is based on the most recent Linehan (2014) DBT-ST manual. Pocket Skills 2.0 incorporates brief lessons using videos featuring Dr. Linehan herself, exercises involving interaction with the chatbot which allow for text input and selection of responses, and the ability to gain points and unlock additional content which increases user engagement. Pocket Skills is currently the only comprehensive and not-for-profit DBT-ST app available where the effectiveness has been evaluated in at least three research trials.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Windsor

Lead Sponsor

Trials

14

Recruited

7,400+

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Collaborator

Trials

388

Recruited

84,200+