Poor adherence to depression treatments (psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy) limits their effectiveness in community settings. Problems with adherence are especially pronounced in low-income settings. Innovative and cost-effective methods are needed to improve adherence to treatments and maximize mental health resources. Mobile phone based text messaging (or short messaging service: SMS) is a ubiquitous technology that has been used in various health applications across socioeconomic status. This technology has the potential to increase the fidelity of mental health treatments via increased adherence. The proposed research project will test whether adding an automated SMS adjunct to group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression can increase adherence (homework adherence, attendance, medication adherence) and further reduce depression symptoms. The SMS adjunct will 1) prompt patients to monitor mood, thoughts and behaviors, 2) will provide medication and appointment reminders and 3) will send personalized CBT based tips. The information that patients provide will be used within the clinical setting to highlight interrelations between thoughts, behaviors and symptoms. The results of the research project will inform an R01 to do further testing of health information technology (HIT) applications in low-income settings. The experience gained through this award will complement previous training and prepare me for a successful clinical research career in the application of health information technologies to mental health services in low-income communities. This K23 (Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award) application delineates a training and research plan seeking to improve depression treatment in low-income communities through the use of text messaging as an adjunct to psychotherapy. The applicant is seeking advanced training in 1) community based mental health services research, 2) health information technology and 3) mixed methods research via mentorship from Kurt C. Organista, Ricardo F. Muoz, and Patricia A. Arean. To achieve further expertise in these areas, various training experiences are proposed with a research trial serving as the core of the career development plan.
This training proposal and research plan addresses NIMH strategic objective #3 to improve and personalize mental health treatment and the NIMH Road Ahead recommendation #3C to support research on the effective deployment of health information technology in underserved communities. Improving adherence to depression treatment with a low cost adjunct such as text messaging has the potential to reduce symptoms, sustain treatment gains and make treatments more efficient.
| Aguilera, Adrian; Ramos, Zorangeli; Sistiva, Diana et al. (2018) Homework completion via telephone and in-person Cognitive Behavioral Therapy among Latinos. Cognit Ther Res 42:340-347 |
| Aguilera, Adrian; Bruehlman-Senecal, Emma; Liu, Nancy et al. (2018) Implementing Group CBT for Depression Among Latinos in a Primary Care Clinic. Cogn Behav Pract 25:135-144 |
| Bruehlman-Senecal, Emma; Aguilera, Adrian; Schueller, Stephen M (2017) Mobile Phone-Based Mood Ratings Prospectively Predict Psychotherapy Attendance. Behav Ther 48:614-623 |
| Ferrás, Carlos; García, Yolanda; Aguilera, Adrián et al. (2017) How Can Geography and Mobile Phones Contribute to Psychotherapy? J Med Syst 41:92 |
| Aguilera, Adrian; Lyles, Courtney Rees (2017) The Case for Jointly Targeting Diabetes and Depression Among Vulnerable Patients Using Digital Technology. JMIR Diabetes 2:e1 |
| Schueller, Stephen M; Aguilera, Adrian; Mohr, David C (2017) Ecological momentary interventions for depression and anxiety. Depress Anxiety 34:540-545 |
| Aguilera, Adrian; Bruehlman-Senecal, Emma; Demasi, Orianna et al. (2017) Automated Text Messaging as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: A Clinical Trial. J Med Internet Res 19:e148 |
| Vázquez, Maria Yolanda García; Sexto, Carlos Ferrás; Rocha, Álvaro et al. (2016) Mobile Phones and Psychosocial Therapies with Vulnerable People: a First State of the Art. J Med Syst 40:157 |
| Suffoletto, Brian; Aguilera, Adrian (2016) Expanding Adolescent Depression Prevention Through Simple Communication Technologies. J Adolesc Health 59:373-4 |
| Aguilera, Adrian; Schueller, Stephen M; Leykin, Yan (2015) Daily mood ratings via text message as a proxy for clinic based depression assessment. J Affect Disord 175:471-4 |
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