Coaching Intervention in Women At-risk for Common Mental Disorders

Coaching Intervention to Improve Mental Well-being of Community Women Who Are At-risk for Common Mental Disorders in Hong Kong: a Randomised Controlled Trial

This study aims to provide coaching intervention for prevention of developing common mental disorders to 60 at-risk women in Hong Kong.

Participants will be recruited through online screening tool. Eligible subjects with informed consent provided will be randomly assigned to coaching group or self-help tips plus telephone support group.

To test the effectiveness of the coaching intervention, data collection will be conducted on demographics, symptoms and psychosocial aspects at baseline, immediately, 3-month and 12-month post-intervention. A self-reported brief questionnaire will be administered at every intervention as well.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to provide written informed consent
• Able to understand Cantonese and read/write Chinese
• With subsyndromal or minor common mental disorders (CMD) indicated by 10 - 20 of Depression subscale of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) or 8-14 of Anxiety subscale of DASS

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those mental conditions that require other treatment priorities (e.g., suicidal risk, substance abuse, current or past episodes of psychotic disorder, personality disorders)
• Those medical conditions that severely limit participation, comprehension, or adherence to treatment (e.g., epilepsy, dementia, terminal medical illness)
• Those who are receiving structured psychotherapy or counseling