Trial Review

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been endorsed by the ANZCTR. Before participating in a study, talk to your health care provider and refer to this information for consumers
Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
Help: Registration number
ACTRN12626000122358
Ethics application status
Help: Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
Help: Date submitted
12/01/2026
Date registered
Help: Date registered
30/01/2026
Date last updated
Help: Date last updated
15/06/2026
Date data sharing statement initially provided
Help: Data sharing statement date
30/01/2026
Type of registration
Help: Type of registration
Prospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
Evaluating the effect of a reminiscence-based therapy focused on social memories and future social experiences on social connectedness in depression
Scientific title
A single-case evaluation of a social reminiscence-based intervention targeting social autobiographical memory and social episodic future thinking on perceived social connectedness in adults with major depressive disorder
Additional trial identifiers [1] 316283 0
None
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
Trial acronym
Related trial records

Health condition
Health condition(s) studied:
Major depressive disorder 340323 0
Low social connectedness 340324 0
Condition category
Condition code
Mental Health 336518 336518 0 0
Depression
Mental Health 336519 336519 0 0
Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
Description of the intervention or exposure
Brief name: Social reminiscence-based therapy targeting social memories and future social experiences.
Participants receive a brief, structured talking therapy that uses guided reminiscence and imagery exercises to target social autobiographical memories and social episodic future thinking, with the aim of improving perceived social connectedness in adults with major depressive disorder. The intervention is adapted from cognitive reminiscence approaches for depression but focuses specifically on past and future experiences of social connection.
Therapy is delivered individually by a registered psychologist or provisionally registered psychologist under supervision. Sessions are conducted face-to-face (or via secure videoconference, if required) and follow a structured manual that includes session outlines, example questions, and homework sheets to elicit and elaborate social memories and to construct detailed, positive social future scenarios.
Each participant receives four sessions of approximately 60 minutes, scheduled weekly over a 4-week period (4 x 1-hour individual sessions over 4 weeks). Across sessions, the therapist: (1) provides psychoeducation about autobiographical memory, future thinking, and social connectedness, and how biases in these processes can maintain depression and disconnection; (2) guides participants to recall specific social memories (e.g., supportive, valued, or meaningful interactions), elaborate their sensory and emotional detail, and reframe these experiences in ways that challenge negative social self-beliefs and schemas; (3) helps participants generate vivid, specific future social episodes that are consistent with their values and goals; (4) assigns brief between-session tasks (e.g., journalling specific positive social memories, imagery practice of future social events) to consolidate learning.
The intervention is delivered in an outpatient university or community clinic setting (or via telehealth to participants’ homes), in a quiet, private room suitable for individual psychotherapy. The content is semi-structured and tailored to each participant’s social history and current goals (e.g., emphasis on family, friends, or community interactions), but all participants receive the same core components: (1) psychoeducation, (2) guided recall and elaboration of specific social memories, (3) restructuring of maladaptive social beliefs, and (4) guided construction of specific positive social future events.
Strategies to maintain adherence and fidelity include training in the manual before the trial commences, regular supervision, and use of session checklists to ensure consistent delivery across participants.
Intervention code [1] 332927 0
Treatment: Other
Intervention code [2] 332928 0
Behaviour
Description of the comparator or control
No control group
Control group
Uncontrolled

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 344039 0
Perceived social connectedness
Timepoint [1] 344039 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention (primary timepoint), and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [1] 456541 0
Depressive symptoms
Timepoint [1] 456541 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [2] 456542 0
Social anhedonia
Timepoint [2] 456542 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [3] 456543 0
Specificity of social autobiographical memories and social episodic future thoughts
Timepoint [3] 456543 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [4] 456888 0
Vividness/detail of social autobiographical memories and social episodic future thoughts
Timepoint [4] 456888 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [5] 456889 0
Mental imagery of social autobiographical memories and social episodic future thoughts
Timepoint [5] 456889 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [6] 456890 0
Personal significance of social autobiographical memories and social episodic future thoughts
Timepoint [6] 456890 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [7] 456891 0
Emotional valence of social autobiographical memories and social episodic future thoughts
Timepoint [7] 456891 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Secondary outcome [8] 456892 0
Pleasure experienced while recalling social autobiographical memories and imagining social episodic future thoughts
Timepoint [8] 456892 0
Baseline, immediately following completion of a 4-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
- Meeting criteria for a current Major Depressive Episode on the MINI for DSM-5
- Social Connectedness Scale–Revised (SCS-R) mean score below 3.5, indicating low perceived social connectedness
- Adults (18 years or over)
- Completed Studies 1 and 2 in the broader project and willing to take part in the intervention phase, with capacity to provide informed consent
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
No limit
Sex
Both males and females
Healthy volunteers
No
Key exclusion criteria
- History of intellectual disability, psychotic disorder, current psychotic symptoms, manic or hypomanic episodes, severe substance use disorder, or borderline personality disorder, as assessed with the MINI for DSM-5
- Acute suicide risk requiring more intensive intervention than a brief outpatient therapy (managed via risk protocol and referral)
- Insufficient English proficiency to understand and complete intervention sessions and questionnaires

Study design
Purpose of the study
Treatment
Allocation to intervention
Non-randomised trial
Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Masking / blinding
Who is / are masked / blinded?



Intervention assignment
Other design features
Phase
Not Applicable
Type of endpoint/s
Statistical methods / analysis

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Not yet recruiting
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
1/08/2026
Actual
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
1/08/2026
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
30/09/2026
Actual
Sample size
Target
10
Accrual to date
Final
Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
VIC

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 320879 0
University
Name [1] 320879 0
Deakin University
Country [1] 320879 0
Australia
Primary sponsor type
University
Name
Deakin University
Address
Country
Australia
Secondary sponsor category [1] 323660 0
None
Name [1] 323660 0
Address [1] 323660 0
Country [1] 323660 0

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 319419 0
Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (DUHREC)
Ethics committee address [1] 319419 0
Ethics committee country [1] 319419 0
Australia
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 319419 0
29/01/2026
Approval date [1] 319419 0
06/05/2026
Ethics approval number [1] 319419 0

Summary
Brief summary
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 147274 0
Dr David Hallford
Address 147274 0
Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood VIC 3125
Country 147274 0
Australia
Phone 147274 0
+61 392 468 829
Fax 147274 0
Email 147274 0
[email protected]
Contact person for public queries
Name 147275 0
David Hallford
Address 147275 0
Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood VIC 3125
Country 147275 0
Australia
Phone 147275 0
+61 392 468 829
Fax 147275 0
Email 147275 0
[email protected]
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 147276 0
David Hallford
Address 147276 0
Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood VIC 3125
Country 147276 0
Australia
Phone 147276 0
+61 392 468 829
Fax 147276 0
Email 147276 0
[email protected]

Data sharing statement
Will the study consider sharing individual participant data?
No


What supporting documents are/will be available?

No Supporting Document Provided


Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.