MedPath

Therapist-guided Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Anxiety
Depression
Interventions
Behavioral: Standard ICBT
Behavioral: Personalized ICBT
Registration Number
NCT03304392
Lead Sponsor
University of Regina
Brief Summary

Depression and anxiety are prevalent and disabling conditions that often go untreated. Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ICBT) is a relatively new approach to treatment that is a convenient way for patients to access care. ICBT is typically highly standardized and involves patients reviewing weekly lessons over the Internet. Patients also receive brief weekly support from a therapist via secure emails or phone calls. Past research shows that \~75% of patients complete ICBT and report large symptom improvements. Although these results are very promising, research also suggests that ICBT could potentially be improved by being more personalized in terms of amount of therapist contact, especially for clients with more severe symptoms. The current trial will involve therapists who work in a clinic that specializes in ICBT. Over one year, 440 patients with depression and/or anxiety will be randomized to either receive standardized (5 lessons completed in 8 weeks; once week therapist contact) or personalized ICBT (5 lessons completed in 8 weeks; personalized therapist contact depending on needs of patient). Psychosocial outcomes of patients in the two treatment arms will be compared post-treatment and at 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up from enrollment. Data on intervention usage, satisfaction measures, and costs will also be assessed.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
449
Inclusion Criteria
  • 18 years of age or older
  • residing in Saskatchewan, Canada
  • endorsing symptoms of anxiety or depression
  • able to access a computer and internet service
  • willing to provide a physician as emergency contact
Exclusion Criteria
  • high suicide risk
  • suicide attempt or hospitalization in the last year
  • primary problems with psychosis, alcohol or drug problems, mania
  • currently receiving active psychological treatment for anxiety or depression
  • not present in province during treatment; concerns about online therapy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Standard ICBTStandard ICBTAn 8-week transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) will be delivered to participants. All clients will receive support from registered social workers, psychologists or supervised graduate students, with experience delivering ICBT, with contact depending upon group allocation. In addition to the online program, therapists, registered social workers, psychologists or supervised graduate students, with experience delivering ICBT will provide support by email only once a week. Therapist will spend approximately 15 minutes per week/per client.
Personalized ICBTPersonalized ICBTAn 8-week transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) will be delivered to participants. All clients will receive support from registered social workers, psychologists or supervised graduate students, with experience delivering ICBT, with contact depending upon group allocation. In addition to the online program, therapists, registered social workers, psychologists or supervised graduate students, with experience delivering ICBT will provide support within one business day of client emails. Amount of contact will be personalized to patients' needs.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in depressionbaseline, start of each Lesson 2-5, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 Item (PHQ-9)

Change in anxietybaseline, start of each Lesson 2-5, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by Generalize Anxiety Disorder - 7 Item (GAD7)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Treatment satisfaction8 weeks

Measured by Internet-CBT Treatment Satisfaction Measure

Change in psychological distressbaseline, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by Kessler 10-Item Scale

Change in post-traumatic symptomsAdministered to only those participants meeting criteria for post-traumatic stress based on the modified brief Life Events Checklist for DSM 5 (LEC-5) at each time point: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by PTSD Checklist 5

Change in quality of life symptomsbaseline, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by EQ-5D-5L

Change in social phobia symptomsbaseline, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by Social Phobia Scale-Short form

Change in treatment costsPart 1 and 2: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up; Part 3: baseline and 1 year follow up

Measured by Treatment Inventory of Costs in Psychiatric Patients (TIC-P) Adapted for Canada

Therapeutic alliance8 weeks

Measured by Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form

Treatment credibilitybaseline and 8 weeks

Measured by Credibility Questionnaire

Change in panic symptomsbaseline, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by Panic Disorder Severity Scale-Self Report

Change in social anxiety symptomsbaseline, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measured by Social Interaction Anxiety Scale

Engagement8 weeks

Measured by: number of lessons completed, number of days of access, number of emails sent to therapist, number of phone calls with therapist, number of emails from therapist to client, total words emailed to therapist, total words emailed from therapist to patient

Change in disabilitybaseline, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Measure by Sheehan Disability Scale-3 Item

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Online Therapy Unit, University of Regina

🇨🇦

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

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