Loneliness and depression in hospital care

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This prospective, noninterventional longitudinal study follows adults admitted for depression at two Erlangen psychiatric clinics with measurements at admission, discharge, and three months after discharge, plus brief interim checks every two weeks during hospitalization. Participants complete self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews and provide biosamples (blood, saliva, stool) at three main timepoints. Every patient admitted with depressive symptoms who meets inclusion criteria will be screened and invited to participate, and individual inpatient stays determine the timing of the second measurement. The study was powered acknowledging that effect sizes for loneliness-depression interactions in clinical populations are currently uncertain.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* primary diagnosis of depression according to ICD-10 (F32 or F33), as diagnosed by a physician or clinical psychologist in conjunction with the M.I.N.I. Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnostic tools
* inpatient elective or emergency admission to one of the two psychiatric clinics; - age over 18 years
* sufficient understanding of spoken and written German
* informed voluntary consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* a current lack of capacity to provide consent (e.g., pronounced psychotic symptoms, stuporous depressive syndrome, and thought constriction to suicidality)
* previous participation in the study
* pregnancy or breastfeeding
* inpatient stay of less than 7 days, even if the patients initially met the inclusion criteria.

Where it's running

• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
  Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany Recruiting
• Bezirkskliniken Mittelfranken, Clinic for Psychiatry, Addiction, Psychotherapie and Psychosomatic Medicine
  Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Franziska Sonnauer, Dr. med., M.Sc. — Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Study coordinator: Franziska Sonnauer, Dr. med., M.Sc.
• Email: franziska.sonnauer@uk-erlangen.de
• Phone: 00499131-8534597

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.