Video Intervention for Depression and Anxiety

Overseen By Aderonke Pederson, MD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Disqualifiers: Psychotic disorder, Severe suicidality, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

90 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores video-based interventions to reduce stigma and mistrust around mental health treatment among Black adults with moderate to severe depression or anxiety. Participants will watch videos featuring individuals sharing their experiences with mental illness, treatment, and recovery. The trial includes different groups; some will start the video program immediately, while others will begin after a waiting period. The trial seeks Black adults who have experienced depression or anxiety, own a smartphone, and have not seen a mental health professional in the past year. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to important research aimed at improving mental health support within the community.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What prior data suggests that this video intervention is safe for reducing mental illness stigma and medical mistrust?

Research has shown that video-based programs are generally safe for participants. Studies have found that these programs can help reduce the stigma around mental health. Typically, participants watch videos where individuals share their experiences with mental illness and recovery. No major negative effects have been reported from watching these videos, indicating they are well-received by participants. Although this specific trial phase lacks its own safety data, existing research supports the safety of similar video programs. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these video interventions for depression and anxiety because they offer a fresh approach compared to traditional treatments like medication and talk therapy. These interventions leverage personal narratives in video format, allowing patients to connect with real-life stories of recovery, which can be more engaging and relatable. The delivery method is also innovative, with a flexible schedule that includes initial video sessions and follow-up boosters, making it easier for participants to access support over time. Additionally, one of the interventions provides a unique waitlist approach, ensuring that even control group participants eventually receive the treatment, which is considerate and inclusive.

What evidence suggests that this trial's video interventions could be effective for depression and anxiety?

Research has shown that videos can help reduce the stigma around mental health. In this trial, participants will receive different video interventions. Studies have found that short video interventions can lead to small but meaningful decreases in negative attitudes toward mental illness. Videos featuring personal stories, where individuals share their own mental health experiences, have proven particularly effective. This approach can enhance understanding of mental health issues and reduce stigma in the short term. By sharing real-life stories, these videos can also encourage more people to seek treatment. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Aderonke Pederson, MD

Principal Investigator

Massachuessets General Hospital

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Black American or Black immigrant adults aged 18-45 who have depression or anxiety, own a smartphone with internet, and haven't been in regular healthcare or seen a mental health professional in the past year. It's not for those with certain impairments or severe mental health conditions like psychosis.

Inclusion Criteria

Identify as Black American or Black immigrant

Experience or been diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety

Have not seen a psychiatrist or therapist in the last 12 months or have not been in routine healthcare

Exclusion Criteria

Diagnosis of psychotic disorder or severe suicidality for which participation would be inappropriate

I do not have impairments that would stop me from participating in study tasks.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a self-administered, video-based mobile app intervention aimed at reducing mental illness stigma over 4 weeks, with two booster sessions in week 6 and 12

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in stigma and mental health service utilization up to 12 months post-intervention

12 months

Waitlist Control

Participants in the waitlist control arm receive the video intervention after a 6-month waitlist period

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Video Intervention 1
• Video Intervention 2
• Video Intervention 3

Trial Overview The study tests three different self-administered video interventions aimed at reducing stigma around mental illness and distrust in medical systems among Black adults suffering from moderate to severe depression or anxiety.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Video Intervention 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The video intervention #1 will involve videos of patients describing personal narratives of mental illness, treatment and recovery, and will be delivered over 4 weeks (with two booster sessions in week 6 and 12). Assessments will be completed over 12 months from date of randomization.

Group II: Video Intervention 2 Active Control 1 Intervention

The video intervention #2 will involve videos of patients describing personal narratives of mental illness, treatment and recovery, and will be delivered over 4 weeks (with two booster sessions in week 6 and 12). Assessments will be completed over 12 months from date of randomization.

Group III: Waitlist Video Intervention 3 Placebo Group 1 Intervention

After the completion of the 6-month waitlist period, the experimental video intervention will be provided. The intervention will involve videos of patients describing personal narratives of mental illness, treatment and recovery, and will be delivered over 4 weeks (with two booster sessions in week 6 and 12). The intervention offered after the waitlist period will follow video intervention 1 (experimental arm).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,066

Recruited

13,430,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The study found that a 7-minute patient-sharing video significantly improved medical students' knowledge and attitudes towards mental illness, although the attitude improvement was not maintained over time.

In contrast, a 5-minute expert information video effectively reduced the desire for social distance among students, indicating that both types of video interventions can help reduce stigma in different ways.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of brief social contact video compared with expert information video in changing knowledge and attitude towards psychosis patients among medical students. Tsoi, OYY., Chan, SKW., Chui, AHC., et al.[2022]

Video interventions are effective in reducing stigma among young people aged 13 to 25, showing improvements in stigmatizing attitudes compared to traditional methods like face-to-face education.

The review found that video-based social contact can achieve similar destigmatization effects as live interactions, highlighting video as a promising tool, though more research is needed, especially in diverse settings and for long-term outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can video interventions be used to effectively destigmatize mental illness among young people? A systematic review. Janoušková, M., Tušková, E., Weissová, A., et al.[2020]

Both the DVD and live interventions effectively reduced stigma related to mental illness, showing no significant difference in their impact on attitudes and emotional reactions among 216 student nurses.

The DVD intervention was found to be the most cost-effective method and improved knowledge about mental illness more than the live presentation, supporting the use of filmed social contact as a practical tool for stigma reduction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Filmed v. live social contact interventions to reduce stigma: randomised controlled trial. Clement, S., van Nieuwenhuizen, A., Kassam, A., et al.[2022]

Video-recorded social contact significantly reduced stigma-related preferences for social distance and negative emotions over one week, suggesting it is an effective intervention for stigma reduction.

In contrast, audio/visual simulations did not lead to any significant changes in stigma, indicating that more research is needed to evaluate their effectiveness before widespread use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Two Potential Mass Media Interventions on Stigma: Video-Recorded Social Contact and Audio/Visual Simulations. Brown, S.[2021]

Very brief video interventions (less than 2 minutes) have been shown to effectively reduce stigma towards individuals with psychosis among young adults, based on three randomized control trials.

The study proposes a conceptual framework to understand the elements that contribute to the effectiveness of these interventions, emphasizing the need for future research to explore mediators and moderators of change in stigmatizing views.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing Public Stigma Towards Psychosis: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Effects of Social Contact Based Brief Video Interventions. Jankowski, SE., Yanos, P., Dixon, LB., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 255 secondary school students in Hong Kong, adding video-based contact after educational sessions significantly improved attitudes towards mental illness, reducing stigma more effectively than education alone.

The education-video approach led to greater reductions in stigmatizing attitudes and social distance at both post-test and follow-up, highlighting the importance of the sequence in which educational content is delivered.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combining education and video-based contact to reduce stigma of mental illness: "The Same or Not the Same" anti-stigma program for secondary schools in Hong Kong. Chan, JY., Mak, WW., Law, LS.[2022]

Two randomized controlled trials involving 895 young adults and 637 adolescents showed that brief videos featuring personal stories about mental illness significantly reduced stigma and increased treatment-seeking intentions, especially among adolescents.

Both traditional and selfie-style videos were equally effective, with effect sizes indicating moderate to strong impacts on stigma reduction, suggesting that personal narratives can be a powerful tool in mental health awareness and treatment engagement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Selfie Videos to Reduce Stigma and Increase Treatment Seeking Among Youths: Two Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trials. Amsalem, D., Jankowski, SE., Pagdon, S., et al.[2023]

Anti-stigma interventions for people with severe mental illness show small-to-medium effects in reducing stigma, but their long-term effectiveness and impact on actual behavior remain unclear due to short follow-up periods in most studies.

Elements such as contact with individuals with mental illness, recovery narratives, and psycho-education appear to be the most effective components of these interventions, although no clear advantage was found between different types of interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effectiveness of anti-stigma interventions regarding severe mental illness: a systematic literature review]. Catthoor, KCEER., Sabbe, BGC., Dreesen, T., et al.[2021]

A video-based intervention significantly reduced stigma around mental health and improved help-seeking attitudes among university students, with effects lasting for five months after the intervention.

The study involved 626 participants and utilized a randomized control trial design, demonstrating that such interventions can effectively address barriers to mental health care in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of a video-based randomized controlled trial intervention on depression stigma and help-seeking attitudes in university students. Conceição, V., Rothes, I., Gusmão, R.[2022]

In a study with 244 participants, the contact-based anti-stigma program showed significant improvements in attitudes towards people with mental illness, particularly in reducing pity and coercion, and promoting empowerment and social inclusion.

The education-based program had limited effects, primarily improving perceptions of responsibility, indicating that direct contact with individuals with mental illness may be more effective in changing stereotypes than traditional educational approaches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Will filmed presentations of education and contact diminish mental illness stigma? Corrigan, PW., Larson, J., Sells, M., et al.[2022]

The study demonstrated that participatory video is a feasible and effective method for people with severe mental illness to create educational content, with three workgroups producing 26 videos and organizing 49 screenings over 18 months, exceeding initial goals.

Viewer feedback indicated that the videos significantly improved understanding of mental illness, with themes highlighting their educational value, relatability, and potential to induce change, suggesting that this approach can help reduce stigma associated with mental health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can participatory video reduce mental illness stigma? Results from a Canadian action-research study of feasibility and impact. Whitley, R., Sitter, KC., Adamson, G., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8518363/

Effects of online stigma‐reduction programme for people ... This systematic review aimed to examine the effects of online and face‐to‐face anti‐stigma interventions in reducing public stigma towards people experiencing ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4102289/

Effectiveness of programs for reducing the stigma ... Interventions targeting personal stigma or social distance yielded small but significant reductions in stigma across all mental disorders combined.

3. psychiatryonline.org psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.20230215

Stigma Reduction Via Brief Video Interventions This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two brief video interventions in reducing mental health–related stigma.

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2829229

Interventions to Reduce Mental Health Stigma in Young ... These findings suggest that interventions to reduce mental health stigma among youth are beneficial in the short term.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949732925000249

Using Instagram to Promote Youth Mental Health ... Social contact–based videos can reduce stigma toward depression and, in turn, increase treatment-seeking. Notably, the efficacy of video-based ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8407346/

Effectiveness of a Video-Based Intervention on Reducing ... Video-based interventions lead to reductions in COVID-19-related fear and stigma. No difference in social activity among groups was found.

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

Social Media–Based Brief Video Interventions to Support ... Evidence suggests that social contact–based brief video interventions are particularly effective in altering perceptions of mental health, ...