Assessing the feasibility of an m-Health intervention for changing diet quality and mood in individuals with depression: the My Food & Mood program

Recent randomized controlled trials have shown that improving diet quality reduces symptoms in those with depression. The provision of digital health interventions that can support dietary change in those with depression has important benefits with respect to reach, accessibility convenience and cos...

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Published inInternational review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 266 - 279
Main Authors Young, Claire L., Mohebbi, Mohammadreza, Staudacher, Heidi, Berk, Michael, Jacka, Felice N., O'Neil, Adrienne
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.04.2021
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Access
Changes
Clinical trials
depression
Diet
dietary intervention
e-Health
Feasibility
Health education
Healthy food
Intervention
low mood
m-Health
Mental depression
mental health
neuroscience
nutritional psychiatry
Online intervention
psychiatry
Symptoms
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Summary:Recent randomized controlled trials have shown that improving diet quality reduces symptoms in those with depression. The provision of digital health interventions that can support dietary change in those with depression has important benefits with respect to reach, accessibility convenience and cost. The My Food & Mood study used single arm cohort design to test the feasibility of such an intervention. Participants with current depressive symptoms were recruited and enrolled online to use the My Food & Mood m-Health (smartphone delivered) program for 8 weeks. Participants completed depression (PHQ-8) and dietary questionnaires (MEDAS) at baseline, week 4 and week 8. Metrics of use and intensity of use engagement measures were calculated from system logs and data entries. There was a significant change in both MEDAS score (t = 8.147, df = 44, p < 0.001) and PHQ-8 score (t = −7.199, df = 44, p < 0.001) throughout the study. There was a moderate positive association between change in MEDAS score and activities completed, goals and weeks engaged, and a strong inverse association between change in MEDAS score and change in PHQ-8 score. An m-Health program targeting dietary intervention in those with depression was feasible. Dietary change was associated with higher engagement and reduced depressive symptoms.
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ISSN:0954-0261
1369-1627
DOI:10.1080/09540261.2020.1854193