Comparison of Online Group Therapy Interventions for Procrastination
- Conditions
- Procrastination
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Psychoeducation and cognitive modules
- Registration Number
- NCT05829174
- Lead Sponsor
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- Brief Summary
The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of two cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) protocols for procrastination with an active control protocol including cognitive-behavioral elements and with a wait-list control group. The interventions will be delivered online in group settings. All three protocols include identical psychoeducation and cognitive modules related to procrastination, but will differ in the behavioral modules. The behavioral module in one protocol is focused on starting on time and realistic planning. The second protocol implements working time restriction. The active comparator protocol implements the pomodoro time management technique. The wait-list control group will receive one of the CBT protocols after the period of waiting. It is assumed that all active conditions will be superior to the wait-list control, and that CBT protocols will be superior to the protocol including the time management technique. Primary (procrastination) and secondary (depression and anxiety) measures will be collected prior and after the interventions (or waiting period in wait-list group) and after 6-months in the three active condition groups.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 222
- Bachelor's and Master's university students
- Self-reported primary difficulties related to chronic and severe procrastination
- Serious procrastination problem lasting for at least one year as confirmed during clinical interview
- Having a postponed/procrastinated project to complete in the course of therapy
- Willing to participate in the study
- Fluent in Polish language
- Computer access and stable Internet connection
- Current participation in other psychotherapy
- Change of psychiatric medication during last 12 weeks
- Severe anxiety or affective disorders and any other severe psychiatric disorders that require other type of specialized care and are primary to procrastination problem (e.g. major depressive episode, social phobia, PTSD, etc.)
- Active suicidality
- Psychosis, bipolar disorder
- Alcohol or substance dependence
- Severe personality disorders (with exclusion of avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders)
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Technique of Working Time Restriction Psychoeducation and cognitive modules 5 session (one session a week) online group therapy including several psychoeducation and cognitive modules (what is procrastination, role of rewards, work environment, belief identification, cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention) and a behavioral module: working time restriction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Techniques of Starting on Time and Planning Realistically Psychoeducation and cognitive modules 5 session (one session a week) online group therapy including several psychoeducation and cognitive modules (what is procrastination, role of rewards, work environment, belief identification, cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention) and a behavioral module: realistic planning, timely beginning. Cognitive Behavioral Intervention with Time Management Technique Psychoeducation and cognitive modules 5 session (one session a week) online group therapy including several psychoeducation and cognitive modules (what is procrastination, role of rewards, work environment, belief identification, cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention) and a behavioral module: pomodoro technique.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Polish version of the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS) baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment) Assessment of procrastination level. The Polish version of PPS consists of 12 items that evaluate procrastination conceptualized as a dysfunctional delay (e.g. "I am continually saying I'll do it tomorrow"; "I delay making decisions until it's too late"). Participants respond on a 5-point scale (1 = "very seldom or not true of me"; 2 = "seldom true of me"; 3 = "sometimes true of me"; 4 = "often true of me"; 5 = "very often true of true of me")
Change in Polish version of the Aitken Procrastination Inventory (API) baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment) Assessment of academic procrastination level. The Polish version of API consists of 19 items that evaluate the tendency of students to procrastinate in their academic tasks (e.g. "If I had an important project to do, I'd get started on it as quickly as possible", "Getting down to work often takes me a long time."). Participants respond on a 5-point scale (1 = "false"; 2 = "mostly false"; 3 = " sometimes false/sometimes true"; 4 = "mostly true"; 5 = "true").
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Polish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment) Assessment of depressive symptoms. The Polish version of PHQ-9 consists of 9 items that evaluate the occurrence of depressive symptoms in the last 2 weeks (e.g. "Little interest or enjoyment of your activities"). Participants respond on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = "not at all"; 1 = "on a few days"; 2 = "on more than half of the days"; 3 = "nearly every day").
Change in Polish version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment) Assessment of depressive symptoms. The Polish version of GAD-7 consists of 7 items that evaluate the occurrence of anxiety and excessive worry symptoms in the last 2 weeks (e.g. "Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen"). Participants respond on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = "not at all"; 1 = "on a few days"; 2 = "on more than half of the days"; 3 = "nearly every day").
Degree of completion of a particular project that the participant decided to work on during the training (e.g. a thesis, an essay, a report). baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6) Before and after therapy participants will be asked to assess the degree of completion of this project in percents.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences
🇵🇱Warsaw, Poland