Actively Recruiting
Modular Intervention for Depression Study
Led by Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile · Updated on 2026-05-12
150
Participants Needed
5
Research Sites
95 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
P
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Lead Sponsor
M
MIDAP Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this psychotherapy clinical trial is to evaluate whether a algorithm-based personalized modular psychotherapy is more effective than usual individual psychotherapy in treating major depressive disorder complicated by personality dysfunction and/or complex trauma in adults aged 18 to 65 receiving care in the Chilean public mental health system. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does algorithm-based modular psychotherapy lead to greater clinically significant reduction and remission of depressive symptoms compared to usual psychotherapy? * Does algorithm-based modular psychotherapy lead to greater improvement in emotional regulation, interpersonal functioning, and self-related functioning, including changes observed in daily life? Researchers will compare algorithm-based modular psychotherapy to usual individual psychotherapy provided in public community mental health centers to see if the modular, personalized approach results in better clinical outcomes, stronger therapeutic alliance, and higher treatment satisfaction. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to receive either algorithm-based modular psychotherapy or usual individual psychotherapy * Attend weekly individual psychotherapy sessions * Complete structured diagnostic interviews and self-report questionnaires before, during, and after treatment * Provide brief daily reports on mood, emotions, and interpersonal experiences using a smartphone before and after treatment
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Modular Intervention for Depression Study
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 18 to 65 years
- Current diagnosis of major depressive disorder confirmed by MINI interview and PHQ-9 score over 10
- Evidence of personality dysfunction with elevated Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form score
- History of moderate to severe early life adversity or clinically significant self-organization alterations
- At least one elevated difficulty in emotion regulation, interpersonal sensitivity, or interpersonal functioning
- Receiving care at a participating public community mental health center in Chile
- Ownership of a smartphone with internet access and active data plan
- Ability to provide written informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Acute suicide risk requiring immediate intensive intervention
- Severe psychiatric disorders other than major depressive disorder, including schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or Bipolar I disorder
- Severe substance use disorder active within past 6 months
- Diagnosis of PTSD meeting full criteria
- Meeting criteria for antisocial personality disorder (two or more criteria) or borderline personality disorder with more than three criteria
- Severe medical, cognitive, or psychosocial conditions interfering with weekly psychotherapy
- Concurrent participation in other active psychotherapy or changes in psychotropic medication during study except stable antidepressants, sleep medications, or as-needed benzodiazepines
- Inability to comply with study procedures or assessments
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 5 locations
1
CDT CASR
Santiago, Chile
Actively Recruiting
2
COSAM La Bandera
Santiago, Chile
Active, Not Recruiting
3
COSAM La Granja
Santiago, Chile
Actively Recruiting
4
COSAM La Pintana
Santiago, Chile
Actively Recruiting
5
COSAM Rinconada
Santiago, Chile
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Alex J Behn, PhD
CONTACT
J
Jorge Matamala, Bachelor of Psychology
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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