Tele-education in Patients With a Moderate Depressive Episode in Primary Care

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying a new tele-education program for adults experiencing moderate depressive episodes. This study focuses on patients managed by their general practitioners in primary care, aiming to improve medication adherence, reduce relapse risk, and enhance patient and professional satisfaction. The program addresses a gap in France, where no psycho-education has been evaluated for this population outside psychiatric care. It uses telemedicine to adapt to recent healthcare changes, especially due to the pandemic. Participants are randomly assigned to either a tele-education program or standard care. The tele-education includes five weekly sessions, each about 60 minutes, covering personalized information on depression symptoms, treatment, diet, coping strategies, and support from family and friends. The final session summarizes what was learned and shares it with the patient’s general practitioner. The control group receives usual care plus an educational booklet on depression. During the study, participants will be monitored by their general practitioner and may also see a psychologist. They will complete questionnaires to assess medication adherence six months after joining and evaluate the tele-education's effectiveness three months after inclusion. The study includes ongoing support, with psychiatrists available for advice if needed, and focuses on improving daily functioning and treatment compliance over time.

Paramedical Tele-education on Moderate Depressive Episodes