Instant Message-delivered Brief Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) for Post-stroke Depression: a Mixed Method Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a therapist-guided, brief internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) delivered through instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat for people who have depression following a stroke. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is common and linked to worse health outcomes, but it is often not addressed adequately. This study aims to see if this personalized and synchronous messaging intervention can support stroke survivors with mild to moderate depressive symptoms and to understand their experience and adherence to the treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group will receive a 3-month program of brief iCBT delivered via instant messages at their chosen times and frequencies, along with therapist-led text or voice messages providing real-time counselling and practical advice. The control group will receive general mental health information and reminders to complete follow-up surveys through instant messaging. The study will include 160 community-dwelling stroke survivors and will follow up at 6 months. During the study, researchers will assess depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as the primary outcome at 24 weeks. They will also measure anxiety, stress, loneliness, and quality of life. Participants' experiences and compliance with the therapy will be explored in a post-trial qualitative study. The study uses strict methods following the CONSORT-EHEALTH guidelines and is led by The University of Hong Kong.

Instant Message-delivered Brief Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) for Post-stroke Depression