Background:Cognitive impairment and difficulties are frequently observed in individuals suffering from major depressive disorder. These impairments and difficulties can persist into remission as residual cognitive symptoms. Consequently affecting daily life functioning and quality of life for those affected. Few scalable interventions have targeted these symptoms and measured long-term clinical effects such as depression relapse.
Objectives: The aim is to assess the clinical effects of an intervention targeting residual cognitive symptoms after major depressive disorder. More specifically, if residual cognitive symptoms would be significantly decreased from pre- to post-treatment and remain stable at the 6-month and 2 year follow-up.
Methods: the study is a randomized, waitlist controlled trial including a total of 60 participants (30 in each arm). Primary measures are residual cognitive symptoms measured by the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions Adults (BRIEF-A) and Perceived Deficit Questionnaire 5 (PDQ-5). Secondary outcome measures are Depression measured by Montgomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and 2 (PHQ-9 and PHQ2), Satisfaction with life measured by Satisfaction with life scale (SWLS), Credibility measured by the Treatment Credibility and Expectation Scale, Rumination measured by the Rumination Response Scale (RRS), Depression screening assessed using the MINI International Psychiatric Interview, Usage data measured by number of log-ins, session length and days in treatment. Quantitative statistical methods will be used to analyze data.
Discussion: The results from the study will contribute to field of internet interventions and provide former depressed adults with an easy access intervention in the treatment of residual cognitive symptoms.
