eIMPACT-DM Pilot Trial: Depression Treatment to Reduce Diabetes Risk

GDA (Empower Interactive) is an empirically supported, HIPAA compliant, computerized CBT for depression appropriate for primary care patients and people with little computer experience. GDA uses an interactive, multimedia format to deliver 9 45-minute sessions, the structure and content of which mirror face-to-face CBT. General topics include identifying and modifying automatic thoughts, using behavioral activation and other behavioral methods, identifying and modifying schemas, using effective coping strategies, and employing other core CBT methods. GDA is empirically supported - it is acceptable to patients, achieves superior depression outcomes to waitlist comparators, and yields equivalent (noninferior) depression outcomes to standard face-to-face CBT. To minimize time/transportation barriers, GDA sessions occur at the PI's lab or a location with internet access selected by the patient (patient's, family member's, or friend's home).

PST-PC is an established, manualized, empirically supported CBT developed for primary care. During the 6-10 30-minute sessions, patients are taught skills for solving problems contributing to depression. We will deliver PST-PC by phone, which has been found to be feasible and efficacious.

We first considered all FDA-approved antidepressants and excluded those with weight gain effects (tricyclics, paroxetine, mirtazapine) and those rarely used in primary care (MAOIs). Then, we used existing evidence to inform the structure. We made bupropion (an aminoketone) and fluoxetine (an SSRI) our first-line and second-line antidepressants, as meta-analyses indicate that their use is associated with weight loss. We made other SSRIs (escitalopram, sertraline) and SNRIs (desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, venlafaxine) our third-line antidepressants, given their negligible effects on weight. Our team will make recommendations to the patient's PCP, who will write prescriptions. Our team and the PCP will then collaboratively manage pharmacotherapy.

(1) The graduate research assistant (RA) will have a 50-minute call with AC patients to review depression materials. The RA will provide a list of Eskenazi Health mental health services and will encourage patients to follow-up with their PCP. We will then send an electronic health record message to the PCP encouraging them to address their patient's depression, note that there are no care restrictions, and provide the same list of services. (2) The RA will call AC patients every 4 weeks to assess depressive symptoms and will notify clinical staff to encourage additional care when indicated. (3) AC patients will receive current primary care for depression. The Eskenazi Health primary care clinics utilize a team care approach, with PCPs supported by embedded behavioral health clinicians and affiliated psychiatrists.