RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Treating Depression on a Day-to-day Basis: Development of a Tool for Physicians Based on a Smartphone Application

This study is looking into how a smartphone app can help people with depression and their doctors. It focuses on using technology to get a better picture of daily symptoms, understand why some people might struggle to take their medication, and see how well treatments are working. By using real-time information from an app, the researchers hope to develop a useful tool for doctors to improve care for people with depression. This could mean more personalised support and better understanding of how depression affects individuals day-to-day, ultimately leading to more effective treatment plans.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Bordeaux

Enrolment target

200

Start

14 Oct 2020

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2026

Depression Psychiatric Disorder Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases

What is this study about?

Imagine being able to give your doctor a much clearer picture of how your depression affects you every single day, not just during appointments. This study is exploring exactly that, by developing and testing a smartphone app. The goal is to create a new, easy-to-use tool that helps doctors understand the daily ups and downs of depression, how well people are taking their medication, and if treatments are truly making a difference. This kind of detailed, real-time information could help doctors tailor care much more effectively.

Depression is a really common and challenging condition, and sometimes it can be hard to know what's truly helping. This study aims to make it easier for both patients and doctors to track symptoms and treatment progress. By gathering information regularly through a smartphone, the app could help identify patterns or specific things that impact your mood and well-being. This information, when shared with your doctor, could make your treatment much more targeted and personal.

The idea is that if doctors have a better understanding of how depression affects someone's day-to-day life, they can provide better care. The app would be designed to help you keep track of your symptoms, and this data could then be used by your doctor to make more informed decisions about your treatment. By making this app widely available, the researchers hope to revolutionise how depression is managed, making it a collaborative effort between you and your healthcare team.

Key takeaways

The study creates a smartphone app to track depression symptoms and medication use daily.
It aims to give doctors a clearer, real-time picture of your condition.
The goal is to improve personalised depression treatment and patient care.
Participants use an app, providing regular updates on their well-being.
This new tool could revolutionise how depression is managed.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a young or middle-aged adult, specifically between 18 and 65 years old. You must have been recently diagnosed with depression and have started antidepressant medication less than five days before joining. The study is for people who are receiving treatment as an outpatient, meaning you are not staying in hospital.

It's important that you understand your diagnosis and are able to give your written permission to take part. The study also requires you to be able to use a smartphone without any difficulties, and to understand French, as these are key for participating.

You would not be able to join if you have certain other mental health conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or if you have ever experienced psychosis. Anyone with memory problems, difficulty understanding instructions, or physical difficulties like severe hearing or vision impairment that would prevent them from using a phone app, would also not be eligible.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Have you started antidepressant medicine in the last 5 days?
Are you treated for depression as an outpatient (not in hospital)?
Can you read and understand French?
Are you able to use a smartphone easily?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The study involves using a smartphone app to track your symptoms and medication use on a day-today basis. You would be expected to interact with the app regularly, providing information about how you're feeling and how you're taking your medication. The specific duration of participation is not detailed but implies ongoing monitoring to gather sufficient daily data.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer the benefit of gaining a better understanding of your own depression and treatment patterns through the app, which you can then discuss with your doctor for potentially more tailored care. There are minimal direct medical risks, as the study focuses on information gathering via a smartphone, not new medication. However, reporting on your symptoms daily could be emotionally taxing for some people. You are always free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Centre Hospitalier Charles PERRENS
Verified postcode
Bordeaux, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The main goal is to create and test a new smartphone app that helps doctors understand and treat depression better by getting daily information from patients.

What will I have to do if I join?

You would use a smartphone app daily to record your symptoms and how you're taking your medication.

Will this app replace my regular doctor visits?

No, this app is designed to help your doctor by providing more detailed information between visits, not to replace them.

Are there any physical procedures involved?

No, this study only involves using a smartphone app to collect information; there are no physical procedures.

Who is funding this research?

The information provided does not specify the funding source. This is usually listed on the full trial registration.

How to find out more

David MISDRAHI, M.D

dmisdrahi@ch-perrens.fr +33(0)556563449 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.