Effectiveness and Timing of a Smartphone-Based Social Support Intervention for Adults with Elevated Depressive Symptoms Seeking Psychotherapy

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying a smartphone-based Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention JITAI designed to support adults with elevated depressive symptoms who are seeking outpatient psychotherapy. This trial aims to find out if the intervention can reduce daily depressive symptoms and increase social support, while also looking at effects on loneliness and perceived social support. The study compares three different strategies for delivering the intervention to find the best timing for support. The study uses a randomized, double-blind design and is sponsored by the University of Zurich. The intervention is delivered through a smartphone app that prompts participants to reach out to their social network during times of vulnerability, receptivity, or support need, based on real-time data collected six times daily. Participants are assigned to one of four groups intervention triggered by vulnerability, by vulnerability and receptivity, by support need, or no intervention control. The intervention encourages identifying needed support and contacts from their social network, offering recommendations or self-help activities when no social contact is available. The study lasts 21 days with daily assessments. Participants will complete six daily assessments to capture their emotional state and social support levels, with primary outcomes measured each evening, including depressive symptoms and received social support. Secondary outcomes such as loneliness and perceived social support are also recorded each evening. The study monitors participant responses closely to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in real time. The total participation period is 21 days, during which participants use the app and provide data multiple times per day.

Activating Social Resources in Psychotherapy-Seeking Individuals: Effectiveness and Timing of a Social Support Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention