Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 16-65 years * Cantonese-speaking ethnic Chinese * Diagnosis of major depressive episode (MDE) established by the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder 5th Edition (DSM-V) * 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) ≥ 14 at screening and at baseline (i.e. moderate to severe depression) * Having a smartphone with Internet access and iOS or Android operating system. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who could not read Chinese, are unable to provide informed consents * Comorbid with other Axis I diagnoses (especially schizoaffective disorder) * With an unstable medical condition or current substance abuse * Have a score of ≥4 on any one of the three items on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (P1 Delusion, P2 Conceptual disorganization, P3 Hallucination) * Marked risk of self-harm or suicide that could not be safely managed in an outpatient clinic setting * Currently receiving any other weekly psychosocial therapy * Unable to use a smartphone-based application due to cognitive impairment or learning disability or inadequate vision.