Effects of video viewing smartphone application intervention involving positive word stimulation in people with subthreshold depression: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Background: A smartphone application (i.e., SPSRS) was developed to help people with subthreshold depression (StD) improve depressive symptoms by presenting positive word stimuli in videos. However, to date, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted to investigate SPSRS application interventions for depressive symptoms in people with StD. Therefore, a pilot RCT was conducted to assess the preliminary efficacy of the SPSRS application intervention for people with StD. Methods: In a pilot RCT, 32 participants (female = 34.4%, mean age = 20.06, SD = 1.24) with StD were randomized to SPSRS application intervention for approximately 10 min/a day for 5 weeks (experimental group; n = 16) or no intervention (wait list control group; n = 16). The primary outcome is the change from baseline in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score after the 5-week intervention. The secondary outcomes are the change from baseline in the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K-6) score and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) after the 5-week intervention. Results: No participants dropped out of the study. The experimental group displayed medium, small, and small improvements in CES-D, K-6, and GAD-7 scores (adjusted Hedge's g = -0.64, -0.29, and -0.40), respectively, compared with control. Limitations: The observed effects must be considered preliminary due to the small sample size. Conclusions: The results suggest the potential of intervention using the SPSRS application to reduce depressive symptoms in people with StD. Future studies should replicate these findings in a full-scale RCT.

Automated summary

A pilot RCT was conducted to assess the efficacy of SPSRS application intervention for people with subthreshold depression. The results showed that the experimental group displayed medium, small, and small improvements in depressive symptoms compared to the control group after the 5-week intervention.