RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05754151

Mobile CBT for Middle Aged and Older Adults

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mobile Cognitive Behavior Therapy App Targeting Depression and Anxiety in Older Adults

Sponsor

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Enrollment

60 participants

Start Date

Jun 16, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Depression Depressive Symptoms Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms

Summary

This study aims to assess a mobile iPhone app called MAYA for use in middle-aged and older adults with anxiety or mood disorders. The MAYA app is designed to teach coping skills for anxiety and depression that are drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants will be asked to use the app for at least two days a week, 20 minutes on each day, for six weeks. Participants will have weekly check-ins as well as longer assessments at the beginning of the study, week 3, week 6 (end of treatment), and week 12 (follow up). During assessments, participants will answer brief questionnaires designed to assess their symptoms and impressions of the app. The main hypotheses of the study are that participants will complete most of the assigned sessions and that they will rate their impressions of the app highly. The secondary hypotheses are that symptoms of depression and anxiety will decrease with use of the MAYA app.

Eligibility

Min Age: 40 Years

Inclusion Criteria4

Age 40 or older
Primary diagnosis of an anxiety or depressive disorder as determined by a clinical severity rating score of 4 or greater on the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS).
Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) no more than 1 SD below the mean score for patient's age and education. If the remote version of the MMSE is used (e.g. during an evaluation on Zoom), the remote MMSE score will be converted to a standard MMSE score.
Access to an Apple iPhone

Exclusion Criteria5

Lifetime diagnosis of a bipolar or psychotic disorder.
Currently in cognitive behavior therapy.
Change in dose of a psychiatric medication in the past 12 weeks.
Initiation of psychotherapy in the past 12 weeks.
Intent or plan to attempt suicide.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALMAYA Mobile Application

The mobile cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) application, MAYA, teaches cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques including emotion monitoring, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, exposure and psychoeducation (i.e. information about anxiety and depression). The application includes an interactive dashboard to provide the user with statistics for tracking progress toward their goals. Although the MAYA application is new, its content and structure are similar to how CBT- a well-established and widely used psychosocial intervention - is commonly delivered in the more traditional setting of a psychotherapist's office.