Treating Depressed Mood With a Smartphone-delivered Positive Word Stimulation for Subthreshold Depression

Treating Depressed Mood With a Smartphone-delivered Positive Word Stimulation for Subthreshold Depression: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is an important public health problem. Thus, preventive interventions against subthreshold depression (StD), which is one of the key risk factors for the development of MDD, are important. The study developed a smartphone application (SPSRS) that improves depressive symptoms in people with StD by automatically presenting positive word stimuli during videos. The SPSRS application has the potential to improve depressive symptoms in people with StDs. However, whether it can immediately improve depressed moods in people with StD is unclear. The study aims to investigate the immediate effects of SPSRS applications on depressed mood in people with StD.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female
2. 20 to 39 years old
3. Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score of 10 points or more
4. Persons with written informed consent prior to participation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of mental illness
2. Currently receiving treatment from a professional for mental health issues
3. Vision or hearing problems that interfere with daily life.
4. With a major depressive episode in the last two weeks according to the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview