Can education, counseling, or therapy best prevent depression in seniors?
NCT ID NCT06132061
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested three levels of depression prevention in 327 seniors aged 60+ living in urban Chinese communities. Level 1 offered health education, Level 2 provided counseling like cognitive behavioral therapy, and Level 3 gave therapy for those with symptoms. Researchers compared these groups to see which approach works best to prevent or reduce depression.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- psychosocial interventions (health education, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance commitment therapy, mindfulness training)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show which type of support—basic education, counseling, or therapy—works best to prevent or reduce depression in older adults living in cities.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study, but it was small (327 people) and only included seniors from urban China, so results may not apply to other groups. The interventions are non-drug and effects may be modest.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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327 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Finished
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Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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60 to 100 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged 60 and above; 2. Permanent residents of urban communities in China; 3. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) \< 9 points; 4. There are susceptibility factors such as living alone, poverty, and suffering from serious diseases. Exclusion Criteria: 1. There is suicidal behavior or risk; 2. A history of any other mental illness, including drug or alcohol dependence; 3. Those who have speech and hearing disorder and cannot communicate normally; 4. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) ≥10 points; 5. Do not agree to participate in the research.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Huashan Street
Kunming, Yunnan, 650000, China
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