Effectiveness of Web-based Treatment for Depression in Patients With Neurologic Disorders
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01663649 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : August 13, 2012
Last Update Posted : March 25, 2015
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200 persons (100 with multiple sclerosis and 100 with epilepsy) with depressive symptoms are recruited via the multiple sclerosis clinics of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and the epilepsy centre Alsterdorf and randomly assigned either to the online program deprexis or to a wait-list control condition. All participants receive free-of-charge online access to deprexis either immediately or with a six month delay.
At three time points (1. prior to intervention, 2. after completion of the intervention nine weeks later and 3. at follow-up six month later), both groups are assessed via an anonymous online survey, which was implemented using the software package OPST®.
The survey consists of different questionnaires. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) represents the primary outcome (IIT analysis for pre versus post). It is assumed that the severity of depressive symptoms will improve to a significantly greater extent in the deprexis than in the wait-list control condition in the course of nine weeks and will be maintained in a six month follow-up.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Depression | Behavioral: Deprexis Behavioral: Wait-list | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 180 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Web-based Treatment Program for Depression (Deprexis) for the Reduction of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy. A Randomized Controlled Trial |
Study Start Date : | June 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | February 2014 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Deprexis
Deprexis (Web-based intervention deprexis consists of ten online modules (plus one introductory and one summary module) representing different psychotherapeutic strategies with a strong focus on evidence-based cognitive-behavioral techniques (e.g. interpersonal skills). Each module lasts approximately 10-60 minutes (e.g. depending on the user´s reading speed). Modules are sequential and organized as simulated dialogues. Each module refers and builds upon previous one. The program is delivered at no cost to participants.)
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Behavioral: Deprexis
web-based treatment program for depression
Other Name: web-based treatment program for depression |
Active Comparator: Wait-list
Wait-list group (Subjects receive access to deprexis after six months)
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Behavioral: Deprexis
web-based treatment program for depression
Other Name: web-based treatment program for depression Behavioral: Wait-list the wait-list group receives Deprexis after 6 month
Other Name: web-based treatment for depression after 6 month |
- Severity of depressive symptoms [ Time Frame: 7 Days ]Severity of depressive symptoms as assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
- quality of life [ Time Frame: 14 days ]quality of life as assessed by the WHO Quality of Life scale (WHO-QOL BREF)
- depressive symptoms [ Time Frame: 7 days ]depressive symptoms as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS)
- core self-evaluations [ Time Frame: 7 days ]core self-evaluations as assessed by the Core Self-Evaluations Scale (CSES)
- suicidal behaviors and tendencies [ Time Frame: 7 days ]suicidal behaviors and tendencies as assessed by the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)
- quality of life [ Time Frame: 7 days ]quality of life as assessed by the Hamburg MS Quality of Life Questionnaire (HALEMS)

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- presence of a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or epilepsy
- self-reported urge to be treated for depressive symptoms (no externally confirmed diagnosis necessary)
- informed consent (provided online in line with regulations by the Hamburg Department of Data Security)
Exclusion Criteria:
- unable to provide informed consent
- diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia spectrum disorders
- substantial neurocognitive impairment (e.g. dementia)
- acute suicidal tendencies as assessed with the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). Subjects excluded for this reason are provided various emergency contacts and phone numbers.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01663649
Germany | |
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf - Neurology | |
Hamburg, Germany, 20246 | |
Epilepsy Centre Alsterdorf | |
Hamburg, Germany, 22337 |
Principal Investigator: | Steffen Moritz, Prof. | Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf |
Other Publications:
Responsible Party: | Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01663649 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Deprexis_2 |
First Posted: | August 13, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 25, 2015 |
Last Verified: | March 2015 |
Depression Online-Therapy Deprexis Self-help |
Depression Depressive Disorder Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders |