McCann 2015.

Study characteristics
Methods	Study design: RCT Duration of study: the study was conducted in 2007‐2008. Country: Thailand Income classification: low‐middle‐income country in 2007‐2008 Geographical scope: provinces in northern Thailand Healthcare setting: carers were recruited from the outpatient department of a psychiatric hospital.
Participants	1. Age: 41 ± 9 years 2. Gender: both 3. Socioeconomic background: 74.1% employed 4. Educational background: 51.9% high school or below Inclusion criteria: a. primary carer of an adult receiving treatment at the outpatient department for moderate depression (International Classification of Disease‐10 classification); b. aged 18–60 years; c. capable of writing and reading Thai; d. had a telephone at home. Exclusion criteria: presently receiving treatment for acute mental illness (as advised by outpatient department nurses). Note: at baseline, the intervention and control group scores for Experience of Caregiving Inventory (ECI) total negative score were, respectively, 100.8 (37.4) and 99.5 (33.8). Stated purpose: to examine the efficacy of a cognitive behaviour therapy‐guided self‐help manual in increasing resilience in caregivers of individuals with depression, in comparison to caregivers who receive routine support only.
Interventions	Name: guided self‐help Title/name of PW and number: caregivers, as the intervention is a guided self‐help book (27 caregivers assigned to the intervention arm) 1. Selection: caregivers of patients diagnosed with depression 2. Educational background: described in population section 3. Training: participants were asked to complete one module of the self‐help book per week. 4. Supervision: treatment fidelity was evaluated during the weekly telephone calls, where participants were asked predetermined questions about the content of the module finished that week. 5. Incentives/remuneration: not specified Prevention type: selective—participants were included based upon the presence of a risk factor (caregiving) and presented with some level of distress as indicated by the ECI scores that were below the cut‐off for the measure. Intervention details: the manual comprised eight modules: (i) gives an outline of depression and encourages readers to engage in physical activity; (ii) affirms the importance of maintaining social contact and physical exercise; (iii) enables participants to discern the way they feel and think; (iv) emphasizes how to change thought patterns from negative to positive; (v) highlights how healthy living, social support, and problem‐solving enable behaviour change and contribute to overcoming depression; (vi) equips the person to improve sleep pattern and to sustain favourable thoughts, behaviours, and emotions; (vii) illustrates how to practice progressive muscle relaxation to assist them to deal with stress; and (viii) re‐emphasizes earlier learned skills in thought challenging, dealing with difficult events and changing behaviour. Participants were asked to finish one module per week, and each module took approximately 2 hours to complete. The manual was provided for 8 weeks only. Control: usual care – control group participants were given standard support while accompanying the family member with depression to the outpatient department for prescription of antidepressant or antianxiety and antidepressant medications and consultations. Standard support included receiving minimal support and information from mental health nurses about supporting the affected family member.
Outcomes	Participants’outcomes of interest for this review Distress/PTSD symptoms – ECI, negative scores as proxy Quality of Life – ECI, positive scores as proxy Note: included as adult outcome given that the intervention was designed for caregivers only Carers’ outcomes of interest for this review Nil Economic outcomes Nil Time points: baseline, post‐intervention (< 1 month, 1‐6 months post‐intervention)
Notes	Source of funding: self‐funded/unfunded Notes on validation of instruments (screening and outcomes): the measure was translated and adapted for use in Thailand; no specifications were given on its psychometric properties. Additional information: none Handling the data: not applicable Prospective trial registration number: ACTRN12614000774628