A Randomized Study to Test a Coach-Guided Tool for Reducing Major Depression Risk in Adults Aged 18 to 65

What this Trial Is About

Depression is a common and disabling mental health condition. This research aims to evaluate a coach-guided personalized depression risk communication tool PDRC designed to share individualized depression risk, risk factors, potential risk reduction, and self-help strategies. The study will recruit 500 male and 500 female adults at high risk of major depressive episodes MDE across Canada to assess the tools impact on depression risk, self-help behaviors, symptom severity, and cost-effectiveness over 12 months. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups the intervention group receives the coach-guided PDRC, which includes personalized risk information and coaching sessions to help understand and act on the information the control group receives individualized depression risk information alone. The PDRC is delivered by email or mail shortly after assessment, and coaching occurs via phone or video within a week. The study follows participants for one year with assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Throughout the study, participants complete evaluations of depression risk, symptom severity, self-help and help-seeking behaviors, and mental health service use. The research team monitors changes over time and explores how self-efficacy affects outcomes. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants developing MDE after 12 months. Secondary outcomes include depressive symptoms and engagement in self-help. The study also assesses cost and potential savings related to the intervention.

The Impact of Coach-guided Risk Communication on the Risk of Major Depression