Video Intervention for Depression Stigma

Overseen By Doron Amsalem, MD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute

Disqualifiers: Non English speakers, Non US residents, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a short video can reduce stigma around depression and encourage teenagers to seek help. It will test three different video types: one focuses on how depression affects friendships and getting support, another discusses getting help without mentioning friends, and the last simply provides information about depression. Teens aged 14-18 who speak English and live in the U.S. may be suitable if they are interested in understanding more about mental health and peer relationships. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for teens to contribute to important mental health research and potentially enhance support for their peers.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this video intervention is safe for adolescents?

Research has shown that short video interventions (BVIs) are generally safe and well-received. Often shared on social media, these videos aim to reduce the stigma around depression. Studies indicate they effectively address mental health issues among young people without causing harm.

One study found that these videos help reduce stigma in five key areas, such as social distance and stereotyping, without any negative side effects. Another review supported that peer-led interventions, like these videos, can decrease self-stigma in people with mental health challenges. These findings suggest that the videos are safe for teenagers and do not lead to harmful effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the video intervention for depression stigma because it offers a fresh approach to tackling mental health issues, especially among adolescents. Unlike traditional treatments like therapy and medication, this intervention uses a brief, relatable video to address the social aspects of depression, emphasizing peer support and social inclusion. The unique feature of highlighting peer relationships and the impact of social support is what sets it apart from current options that typically focus on clinical treatment without considering the social dimensions. This method has the potential to not only reduce stigma but also encourage young people to seek help, making it a promising addition to existing depression treatment strategies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's video interventions could be effective in reducing depression stigma among adolescents?

Research has shown that short videos, such as those on social media, can effectively reduce the stigma around depression in teenagers. These videos increase young people's willingness to seek help. In this trial, participants will view various types of brief videos. One study arm features a video focusing on peer relationships and support, which researchers have found especially helpful in reducing stigma and encouraging teens to ask for help. Fitting in with peers holds significant importance for teenagers. Overall, these videos are promising tools for raising mental health awareness and reducing stigma among young people. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Doron Amsalem, MD

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for US residents aged 14-18 who speak English. It's designed to help adolescents with depression-related stigma, which can affect their willingness to seek help. Those not fluent in English or outside the age range of 14-18 are not eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

US residents

Exclusion Criteria

Non English speakers

I am either younger than 14 or 19 years old or older.

Do not reside in the US

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants view a brief video intervention targeting peer social inclusion to reduce depression-related stigma and increase help-seeking

1 day

1 visit (virtual)

Assessment

Participants complete assessments immediately after viewing the video to measure stigma and help-seeking attitudes

1 day

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in stigma and help-seeking attitudes after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Brief Video Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a brief video intervention aimed at reducing stigma around depression and encouraging help-seeking behavior among teens. Participants will be randomly assigned to watch either a standard mental health video, a new video including peer inclusion themes, or an informational control video without social contact.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Peer social-inclusion enhanced social contact brief video Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Novel brief video (1-2 mins) in which an adolescent talks about feeling depressed, and the impact this has on peer relationships, getting treatment, selectively disclosing mood problems with some friends, and experiencing support from both peers and family which helped facilitate recovery from depression.

Group II: Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Brief video (1-2 mins) provides information about symptoms of depression and how to seek help with computer-generated voice, to isolate mechanisms of information from identification and emotional engagement.

Group III: Generic social contact brief video Active Control 1 Intervention

Similar to existing brief videos (1-2 mins), an adolescent talks about feeling depressed, and then asking parents for help, and receiving professional treatment. This video does not make any references to peers or social support.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

481

Recruited

154,000+

Columbia University

Collaborator

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9307690/

randomized controlled trial of brief social contact–based ... Brief social contact–based videos proved effective among adolescents in reducing depression-related stigma, increasing help-seeking intentions, and providing ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11736514/

Interventions to Reduce Mental Health Stigma in Young People Effect of a brief social contact video on transphobia and depression-related stigma among adolescents: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07061600

Enhancing Depression Literacy and Reducing Stigma in ... The "ich bin alles" project provides comprehensive evidence-based and age-appropriate information on depression and mental health in youth via social media ( ...

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789426

Effect of a Brief Social Contact Video on Transphobia and ... Brief social contact–based videos proved efficacious in reducing adolescent transphobia and depression-related stigma.

5. psychiatryonline.org psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.20240093

Social Media–Based Brief Video Interventions to Support ... Social media platforms are communication forums with potential benefits and disadvantages for youths' mental health.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11731602/

Blueprint for destigmatizing depression and increasing ... Our study offers a steppingstone towards the creation of brief, social contact-based video interventions focused on destigmatizing depression and promoting ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9294224/

Stigma and Peer-Led Interventions: A Systematic Review ... The main purpose of our systematic review was to investigate the effect of peer-led intervention on self-stigma in individuals with mental ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/382140206_Social_Media-Based_Brief_Video_Interventions_to_Support_Youths'_Mental_Health

Social Media-Based Brief Video Interventions to Support ... Study Results Results replicated prior findings that video interventions were effective at reducing stigma across 5 domains (social distance, stereotyping ...

9. mental.jmir.org mental.jmir.org/2023/1/e41855

From Social Network to Peer Support ... - JMIR Mental Health This viewpoint paper considers the background to peer support, how it is currently being used online, and the scope for Facebook to be used in ...