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

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Major depressive and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in the general population and are a leading cause of disability. Black adults have a high burden of depression and anxiety. This study aims to assess a self- administered video-based intervention to reduce mental illness stigma and medical mistrust among Black adults with moderate to severe depression or anxiety.

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Video Intervention for Depression and Anxiety?

Research shows that video-based interventions, especially those involving social contact, can reduce stigma related to mental illness. These interventions have been found to decrease negative emotions and social distance, making them promising for reducing stigma in a cost-effective and easily disseminated way. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Video Intervention for Depression and Anxiety safe for humans?

The research on video interventions for reducing mental health stigma suggests they are generally safe, as they involve watching videos to change perceptions and attitudes, which is a low-risk activity. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

How does the Video Intervention for Depression and Anxiety treatment differ from other treatments?

The Video Intervention for Depression and Anxiety is unique because it uses video-based methods to reduce stigma and improve help-seeking attitudes, which can be more effective and easier to disseminate than traditional face-to-face educational sessions. This approach is particularly promising for young people and university students, offering practical and cost-effective advantages over live interventions. ^{3 6 9 10 11}

Research Team

Aderonke Pederson, MD

Principal Investigator

Massachuessets General Hospital

Eligibility Criteria

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

I am between 18 and 45 years old.

Identify as Black American or Black immigrant

Experience or been diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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-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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effectiveness of anti-stigma interventions regarding severe mental illness: a systematic literature review]. [2021]

2. Australia 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. [2022]

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

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

4. England 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. [2022]

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

Will filmed presentations of education and contact diminish mental illness stigma? [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Filmed v. live social contact interventions to reduce stigma: randomised controlled trial. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can participatory video reduce mental illness stigma? Results from a Canadian action-research study of feasibility and impact. [2020]

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

Reducing Public Stigma Towards Psychosis: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Effects of Social Contact Based Brief Video Interventions. [2023]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can video interventions be used to effectively destigmatize mental illness among young people? A systematic review. [2020]

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

Selfie Videos to Reduce Stigma and Increase Treatment Seeking Among Youths: Two Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trials. [2023]

11. Ireland 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. [2022]