Social Media Experiences for Mental Illness

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Hailey Hatch, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Chronic illness, Autism, Developmental delay, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

250 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Social Rejection Task treatment for mental illness?

Research shows that social media interactions, like those on Facebook and Twitter, can help reduce depressive symptoms, especially for people with less in-person social support. This suggests that online social experiences might be beneficial for mental health, which could relate to the Social Rejection Task treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the treatment 'Social Media Experiences for Mental Illness' differ from other treatments for mental illness?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on using social media to provide support and reduce stigma for people with mental illness, unlike traditional treatments that may not address the social aspects of mental health. It leverages online interactions to potentially improve mental health outcomes, especially for those with limited in-person support. ^{2 3 5 6 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This longitudinal study is designed to test bidirectional relationships between preteen girls' mental health and social media experiences. We will explore how pubertal development and experiences of rejection influence these relationships.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for early adolescent girls who are going through puberty and may have mental health vulnerabilities linked to social media experiences. It's not clear what specific conditions exclude someone from participating, as the exclusion criteria are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Engagement in social media use

Proficient in the English language

Family/personal device that can complete daily diaries

Exclusion Criteria

Previously diagnosed chronic medical illness

Autism spectrum disorder

Significant developmental or speech delay

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants complete the study intervention focusing on social media experiences and mental health

2 years

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Social Rejection Task

Trial Overview The study is testing how preteen girls' mental health can be affected by their use of social media, especially when they experience rejection. The focus is on understanding the two-way relationship between these factors over time.

Participant Groups

Group I: All participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All participants complete the study intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington University School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,027

Recruited

2,353,000+

St. Louis University

Collaborator

Trials

197

Recruited

41,400+

Northeastern University

Collaborator

Trials

103

Recruited

72,600+

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Blinded Clinical Ratings of Social Media Data are Correlated with In-Person Clinical Ratings in Participants Diagnosed with Either Depression, Schizophrenia, or Healthy Controls. [2021]

2. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identifying schizophrenia stigma on Twitter: a proof of principle model using service user supervised machine learning. [2022]

3. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neural and cognitive correlates of stigma and social rejection in individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI): A systematic review of the literature. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Facebook enhances antidepressant pharmacotherapy effects. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Are Aspects of Twitter Use Associated with Reduced Depressive Symptoms? The Moderating Role of In-Person Social Support. [2020]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

When perceptions defy reality: The relationships between depression and actual and perceived Facebook social support. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stigma apprehension among adolescents discharged from brief psychiatric hospitalization. [2011]