Can integrating the Memory Support Intervention into cognitive therapy improve depression outcome? A randomized controlled trial. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Lu; Zieve, Garret; Gumport, Nicole B.; Armstrong, Courtney C.; Alvarado-Martinez, Cynthia G.; Martinez, Armando; Howlett, Shayna; Fine, Eve; Tran, Melanie; McNamara, Mary E.; Weaver, Claire; Tuck, Alison B.; Hilmoe, Heather E.; Agnew, Emma; Fisher, Krista; Diaz, Marlen; Lee, Jason Y.; Hollon, Steven D.; Notsu, Haruka; Harvey, Allison G.
• Is Part Of: Behaviour research and therapy. Volume 157(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Memory support -- Depression -- Cognitive therapy -- Transdiagnostic -- Experimental therapeutics; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7967

Abstract

Abstract: We investigated if improving a patient's memory for the content of their treatment, via the Memory Support Intervention, improves illness course and functional outcomes. The platform for investigating this question was major depressive disorder (MDD) and cognitive therapy (CT). Adults diagnosed with MDD ( N = 178) were randomly allocated to CT + Memory Support ( n = 91) or CT-as-usual ( n = 87). Both treatments were comprised of 20–26, 50-min sessions over 16 weeks. Blind assessments were conducted before and immediately following treatment (post-treatment) and 6 months later (6FU). Patient memory for treatment, assessed with a free recall task, was higher in CT + Memory Support for past session recall at post-treatment. Both treatment arms were associated with reductions in depressive symptoms and functional impairment except: CT + Memory Support exhibited lower depression severity at 6FU ( b = -3.09, p = 0.050, d = −0.27), and greater reduction in unhealthy days from baseline to 6FU ( b = −4.21, p = 0.010, d = −1.07), compared to CT-as-usual. While differences in illness course and functional outcomes between the two treatment arms were limited, it is possible that future analyses of the type of memory supports and longer follow-up may yield more encouraging outcomes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01790919. Registered October 6, 2016. Highlights: Patient memory for treatment is poor. Therapists are able to increase the amount of memory support they deliver. Adding memory support to treatment-as-usual may improve patient memory for treatment. The Memory Support Intervention may improve outcome on selected measures. Future analyses will focus on the type, quality and focus of the memory support.