NCT04318236: HERMES

Factorial Trial Investigating Outcome and Adherence Relevant Factors in an Online Self-help Intervention for Depression

Completed NA Last updated 3 May 2021

What this trial tests

NA trial testing HERMES (Online Self-Help Intervention based on problem-solving therapy) in Depression Mild in 316 participants. Completed in 1 February 2021.

Timeline

3 March 2020

Primary endpoint
1 February 2021

1 February 2021

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Bern
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	factorial
Masking	single
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	316
Start date	3 March 2020
Primary completion	1 February 2021
Estimated completion	1 February 2021
Sites	1 location across Switzerland

Drugs / interventions tested

• HERMES (Online Self-Help Intervention based on problem-solving therapy)

Conditions studied

• Depression Mild — all drugs for Depression Mild →
• Depression Moderate — all drugs for Depression Moderate →

Sponsor

University of Bern

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Depression Mild or Depression Moderate. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

A vast amount of studies show that online interventions are suitable to reduce symptoms of mental illness as for instance depression or anxiety. However, participants who use online interventions are more likely to drop out of treatment compared to face-to-face interventions. It is important to enhance adherence to online interventions so that participants engage longer in the programs. Also, as online interventions are useful to reduce the burden of mental illness, it is of interest to further improve outcomes of such interventions. Therefore, it will be investigated in this study whether or not four different factors have an impact in fostering adherence to and improving outcome of an internet-based self-help intervention based on problem-solving therapy. A multifactorial design will be used for this study to screen simultaneously whether or not i) a diagnostic telephone interview and, ii) an educational module based on motivational interviewing prior to the intervention and iii) guidance by the study team, and iv) automated e-mail reminders during the study are active factors in enhancing adherence to and outcome of online interventions.

Publications & conference data

4 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Working alliance and adherence mediate the effect of guidance in a web-based program for participants with mild to moderate depressive symptoms: A secondary mediation analysis.
   Bur OT, Bielinski LL, Krauss S, Häfliger A, et al · · 2022 · cited 12× · PMID 36471704 · DOI 10.1016/j.invent.2022.100593
2. Optimizing the Context of Support to Improve Outcomes of Internet-Based Self-help in Individuals With Depressive Symptoms: Protocol for a Randomized Factorial Trial.
   Bur OT, Krieger T, Moritz S, Klein JP, et al · · 2021 · cited 7× · PMID 33528377 · DOI 10.2196/21207
3. Treatment expectations and depressive symptoms in an internet-based intervention for depression. A secondary analysis.
   Wälchli G, Bielinski LL, Bur OT, Krieger T, et al · · 2025 · PMID 40949008 · DOI 10.1016/j.invent.2025.100869
4. Participant Adherence and Contact Behavior in a Guided Internet Intervention for Depressive Symptoms: Exploratory Study.
   Bur OT, Berger T. · · 2024 · PMID 39679951 · DOI 10.2196/46860