RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05333627

Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Students: Duration Preference Trial

Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Post-Secondary Students: Preference Trial for Flexible, 5-Week, and 8-Week Options

Sponsor

University of Regina

Enrollment

200 participants

Start Date

Nov 1, 2020

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Depression Anxiety

Summary

There is growing evidence for the effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) for post-secondary students with symptoms of depression and anxiety. In ICBT, clients review structured online content over several weeks to learn strategies and skills to manage their symptoms. Low treatment completion rates remain a concern for post-secondary students, so it is possible that existing treatment protocols do not offer enough flexibility for students' needs and preferences. This trial will examine students' preferences for different course options (fast-track, 5-week, and 8-week) and compare enrollment, adherence, and outcomes of students who pick each of the three options. In all three options, students will receive optional therapist support, in which the assigned therapist only contacts the student on weeks where the student sends the therapist a message. This trial will help inform the delivery of flexible treatment options for post-secondary students in a routine care setting.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is comparing different lengths of internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (iCBT) to find out which format students prefer and which works best for managing depression and anxiety symptoms. **You may be eligible if...** - You are over 18 years old and currently enrolled as a student at a post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan, Canada - You have symptoms of depression (score of 5 or above on a depression questionnaire) and/or anxiety (score of 5 or above on an anxiety questionnaire) - You have access to a computer and the internet **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You are at high risk of suicide or have been hospitalized for mental health in the past year - You have unmanaged alcohol or drug use problems - You have a severe, unmanaged psychiatric illness such as psychosis or mania - You are already receiving other psychological services more than twice per month Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALWellbeing Course for Students (Fast Track)

The core Fast-Track lesson includes information on managing their cycle of symptoms, motivation, and an overview of strategies that can be used to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. After the core lesson, clients can access three additional Do-It-Yourself guides that focus on thought challenging, controlled breathing/activity planning, and behavioural activation/relapse prevention. These materials are able to be accessed out of sequence on a schedule that suits their needs. With optional therapist support, therapists will respond to any messages that clients send once per week. Therapists will not message clients on weeks where the client does not send a message.

BEHAVIORALWellbeing Course for Students (5 weeks)

The 5-week course consists of four lessons that provide psychoeducation about: symptom identification and the cognitive behavioural model, thought monitoring and challenging, controlled breathing and pleasant activity scheduling, graded exposure, and relapse prevention. With optional therapist support, therapists will respond to any messages that clients send once per week. Therapists will not message clients on weeks where the client does not send a message.

BEHAVIORALWellbeing Course (8 weeks)

The 8-week course consists of five lessons that provide psychoeducation about: symptom identification and the cognitive behavioural model, thought monitoring and challenging, controlled breathing and pleasant activity scheduling, graded exposure, and relapse prevention. With optional therapist support, therapists will respond to any messages that clients send once per week. Therapists will not message clients on weeks where the client does not send a message.