Practitioner Review: Unguided and guided self-help interventions for common mental health disorders in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a mental health drop-in centre for the siblings of young people attending a paediatric hospital

Siblings of children with long-term conditions (LTCs) can have significantly elevated mental health needs, but these are often overlooked. A pragmatic single-arm feasibility pilot assessed feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a drop-in centre in a paediatric hospital addressing mental health needs of patients with LTCs, their carers and siblings. The drop-in centre accepted self-referral and supplemented existing provision offering a suite of interventions, including signposting, diagnostic assessments and/or guided self-help. This paper reports on feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of this centre for siblings. Eighteen siblings aged 2-17 used the centre. Sixteen of their parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires at baseline and 6 months post-baseline, and ten completed parent-reported PedsQL across two time points. Preliminary effectiveness results demonstrated a decrease in mental health symptoms with large effect size (score reduction of 3.44, 95% CI [1.25, 5.63], d = 0.84) and small effect on quality of life, with scores increasing from a median of 69.91, 95% CI [53.57, 91.67], to a median of 80.44, 95% CI [67.39, 89.13], r = 0.11 for these siblings. 88% of parents were satisfied with this provision for their sibling child. This study highlights the feasibility and value of assessing siblings for emotional and behavioural difficulties and providing them with an accessible, effective and acceptable intervention.

Guided Self-Help Treatment for Children and Young People With Eating Disorders: A Proof-Of-Concept Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a proof-of-concept pilot study of a CBT guided self-help intervention for children and young people with eating disorders.

METHOD

Children and young people were recruited from two outpatient eating disorder services in England. They received a CBT guided self-help intervention consisting of eight modules and weekly support sessions. Clinical outcomes (eating disorder psychopathology and associated impairment, changes in %median BMI, depression, anxiety, and behavioural difficulties) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks). Qualitative data were collected for future intervention refinement.

RESULTS

Six female adolescents (aged 13-17) received the CBT guided self-help intervention. All participants completed a minimum of six modules and six support sessions. Quantitative and qualitative feedback suggested that the intervention was acceptable. From baseline to post-intervention, there was a reduction in eating disorder psychopathology and impairment, along with an increase in %median BMI. Outcomes for depression, anxiety and behavioural difficulties were mixed.

CONCLUSIONS

The CBT guided self-help intervention was feasibly implemented, acceptable to participants, and showed potential to produce clinical benefits. While promising, these findings are preliminary and derived from a small, non-randomised sample of White female adolescents. More rigorous evaluation with a randomised design and a larger, representative sample is warranted.

Developing an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders: Design, Usability, and Initial Evaluation of the CoolMinds Intervention

BACKGROUND

Digital mental health interventions may help increase access to psychological treatment for adolescents with anxiety disorders. However, many clinical evaluations of digital treatments report low adherence and engagement and high dropout rates, which remain challenges when the interventions are implemented in routine care. Involving intended end users in the development process through user-centered design methods may help maximize user engagement and establish the validity of interventions for implementation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the methods used to develop a new internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention, CoolMinds, within a user-centered design framework.

METHODS

The development of intervention content progressed in three iterative design phases: (1) identifying needs and design specifications, (2) designing and testing prototypes, and (3) running feasibility tests with end users. In phase 1, a total of 24 adolescents participated in a user involvement workshop exploring their preferences on graphic identity and communication styles as well as their help-seeking behavior. In phase 2, a total of 4 adolescents attended individual usability tests in which they were presented with a prototype of a psychoeducational session and asked to think aloud about their actions on the platform. In phase 3, a total of 7 families from the feasibility trial participated in a semistructured interview about their satisfaction with and initial impressions of the platform and intervention content while in treatment. Activities in all 3 phases were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using thematic analysis and qualitative description design. The intervention was continuously revised after each phase based on the feedback.

RESULTS

In phase 1, adolescent feedback guided the look and feel of the intervention content (ie, color scheme, animation style, and communication style). Participants generally liked content that was relatable and age appropriate and felt motivating. Animations that resembled "humans" received more votes as adolescents could better "identify" themselves with them. Communication should preferably be "supportive" and feel "like a friend" talking to them. Statements including praise-such as "You're well on your way. How are you today?"-received the most votes (12 votes), whereas directive statements such as "Tell us how your day has been?" and "How is practicing your steps going?" received the least votes (2 and 0 votes, respectively). In phase 2, adolescents perceived the platform as intuitive and easy to navigate and the session content as easy to understand but lengthy. In phase 3, families were generally satisfied with the intervention content, emphasizing the helpfulness of graphic material to understand therapeutic content. Their feedback helped identify areas for further improvement, such as editing down the material and including more in-session breaks.

CONCLUSIONS

Using user involvement practices in the development of interventions helps ensure continued alignment of the intervention with end-user needs and may help establish the validity of the intervention for implementation in routine care practice.

Co-designing the FOotpaths foR Adolescent MAternal Mental HeAlth (FOR MAMA) intervention for pregnant teens in Malawi

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to gain insights into stakeholders' priorities and preferences for a scalable intervention for common mental problems among perinatal adolescents in Malawi.

METHODS

Participatory stakeholder workshops (n=9) were conducted iteratively according to the principles of the Person-Based Approach. Three stakeholder groups were recruited from one urban and one rural primary health centre in Zomba district, Malawi: perinatal adolescents (n=10), their family members (n=8) and healthcare workers (n=10). Framework analysis was conducted using intervention descriptors from the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist.

RESULTS

Participants emphasized the need for information on causes and symptoms of common mental problems and for developing coping strategies: a) those focused on external stressors-problem-solving, financial literacy and interpersonal skills-and b) emotion-focused approach behaviours-behavioural activation, relaxation and anger management. There was a strong preference for healthcare workers as intervention providers. Participants agreed on a brief antenatal intervention delivered weekly using both group and individual formats. There were positive views on both self-help and guided formats. All stakeholder groups felt there was a need for follow-up to ensure that adolescents correctly engaged with the intervention material.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings informed the design of a brief multicomponent guided intervention for adolescents in the antenatal period.

Predictors of dropout, time spent on the program and client satisfaction in an internet-based, telephone-assisted CBT anxiety program among elementary school children in a population-based sample

Increasing evidence has shown that childhood anxiety can be effectively treated by Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT). Being able to predict why participants decide to drop out of such programs enables scarce resources to be used appropriately. The aim of this study was to report dropout predictors for a population-based ICBT intervention aimed at children with anxiety, together with the time they and their parents spent on the program and client satisfaction rates. The study focused on 234 Finnish children aged 10-13 who received an ICBT intervention, with telephone support, for anxiety symptoms, as a part of a randomized control trial. Their parents also had access to Internet-based material and participated in the weekly telephone calls with the coach. Possible drop out factors were explored and these included various family demographics, child and parent psychopathology and therapeutic alliance. Just under a fourth (23.9%) of the children dropped out of the intervention. The risk was higher if the child did not fulfill the criteria for any anxiety diagnosis or reported a poorer therapeutic alliance. Family demographics and the COVID-19 pandemic did not increase the risk. The families spent an average of 127 min on the webpage each week and an average of 32 min on the phone calls. The overall satisfaction with the program was 87% for the children and 95% for the parents. Both the children and the parents found the telephone calls helpful. These findings are important in clinical practice when assessing a family's eligibility for ICBT.

Single-blinded, randomised, parallel-group, controlled trial comparing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of therapist- and self-guided internet-delivered behavioural activation versus treatment as usual for adolescents with mild to moderate depression: study protocol

INTRODUCTION

The number of adolescents seeking professional help for depression is increasing and, despite advances in treatment, large unmet treatment needs remain. In the current protocol, we describe the design and methodology of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the clinical efficacy of two forms of internet-delivered behavioural activation (I-BA), with and without therapist support, in reducing depressive symptoms, compared with treatment as usual (TAU). Secondary objectives include examining the 12-month maintenance of the treatment effects and conducting a health economic evaluation of the interventions.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

In this single-blinded RCT, we aim to include 215 participants aged 13-17 years with mild to moderate depression who will be randomised (1:1:1 ratio) to 10 weeks of either therapist-guided or self-guided I-BA, or TAU provided by regular mental health clinics. Data will be collected at baseline, weekly for the initial 10 weeks, post-treatment and at 3 and 12-month follow-ups. The primary endpoint is the 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome is blinded clinician-rated severity of depressive symptoms, measured by the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised. Treatment response is defined as a score of 'Much improved' or 'Very much improved' on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale, administered at the primary endpoint. Outcome assessors will be blinded to treatment conditions at all assessment points. A health economic evaluation of I-BA will be performed, both in the short term (primary endpoint) and the long term (12-month follow-up).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was obtained from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority in June 2021. The final participant was enrolled on 3 May 2024 and expected to reach the primary endpoint by November 2024. The results of this study will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and communicated to healthcare providers and the public.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04977856.

Internet-based cognitive behavioral intervention for adolescents with anxiety disorders: a study protocol for a parallel three armed randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health concerns affecting children and adolescents. Despite their high prevalence, statistics indicate that fewer than 25% of individuals in this demographic seek professional assistance for their condition. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop innovative interventions aimed at improving treatment accessibility.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) for adolescents with anxiety, with a specific emphasis on involving parents in the treatment process.

METHODS

The study is structured as a parallel three-armed randomized controlled trial, comparing Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) with planned feedback, iCBT with on-demand feedback, and a waitlist control group, each group including 56 participants. Participants in the two iCBT conditions will undergo a 14-week treatment regimen, while those in the waitlist control group will wait for 14 weeks before starting iCBT with planned feedback. Additionally, participants in the iCBT groups will be randomly assigned to receive a booster session or not. The study design is factorial including two factors: type of therapist feedback (factor 1) and booster or no booster (factor 2). The study population comprises adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years, residing in Denmark, diagnosed with an anxiety disorder according to DSM-5 criteria. The primary outcome measures are the Youth Online Diagnostic Assessment and the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale. Assessments will occur at baseline, post-treatment, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups post-treatment.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this study are anticipated to contribute to improving the accessibility of evidence-based treatments for adolescents with anxiety.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study is registered at clinicalTrials.gov, under protocol ID 22/59602. The Initial release was the 16.10.2023, first posted due to technical problems 16.04.2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06368557?locStr=Odense,%20Denmark&country=Denmark&city=Odense&page=2&rank=13 .

Computerised health interventions targeting Australian veterans and their families: A scoping review

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Australian veterans suffer higher rates of both mental and physical health conditions than civilians, yet many do not seek treatment. Computerised Interventions (CIs) may provide an alternative approach to management, which can overcome some barriers to treatment uptake. We aim to evaluate the scope and quality of CIs designed specifically for Australian veterans and their families.

METHODS

A manual search of the Department of Veterans' Affairs and other Ex-service organisation websites was performed to map and describe CIs for Australian veterans and their families, followed by a scoping review of four databases to identify evaluations of relevant CIs.

RESULTS

Our search identified 10 CIs specific to Australian veterans and their families. The majority were structured, self-guided CIs, designed to elicit cognitive/behavioural change that addressed mental health and psychosocial needs during transition. Three evaluations examined previously identified CIs. The results showed mixed reviews from participants and clinicians, in two separate evaluations, regarding user experience, quality and perceived benefit. In addition, positive psychological outcomes, including the reduction of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, were demonstrated for participants of the online intervention.

CONCLUSION

While Australian veteran-centric online interventions primarily focus on psychological conditions, the prevalent physical health concerns within the veteran population remain unaddressed. Additionally, despite the documented impact of military experience on family members, there is a lack of specific Australian interventions designed for families. Few tools have been formally evaluated, yet show promise as supportive self-directed resources for veterans with PTSD, and for navigating transition challenges. SO WHAT?: Further development of online interventions addressing prevalent physical and family needs, and conduction of comprehensive evaluations are needed to enhance overall quality, accessibility and holistic effectiveness of interventions for the Australian veteran community.

A guide for self-help guides: best practice implementation

Guided self-help is an evidence-based intervention used globally. Self-help is a fundamental part of the stepped care model of mental health services that enables the efficient use of limited resources. Despite its importance, there is little information defining the role of the guide and the key competences required. In this context, the guide is defined as the person who facilitates and supports the use self-help materials. This article sets out the role of the guide in guided self-help. It considers practical issues such as the importance of engagement to motivate clients for early change, personalising the intervention, structuring sessions, how best to use routine outcome monitoring and supervision requirements. Key competences are proposed, including generic competences to build the relationship as well as specific competences such as being able to clearly convey the role of the guide to clients. Guides should be prepared for "self-help drift", a concept akin to therapist drift in more traditional therapies. Knowing how to identify mental health problems, use supervision and manage risk and comorbidity are all key requirements for guides. The paper concludes by calling for increased recognition and value of the role of the guide within mental health services.

Universal online self-help ACT interventions for youth: A systematic review

Previous reviews of online self-help have not exclusively focussed on universally delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of universal online self-help ACT interventions for young people. Relevant databases were searched for studies examining ACT interventions that were delivered universally, online and as self-help (guided and unguided) to young people aged 10 to 25-years-old. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. These were assessed for quality and findings summarised using a narrative synthesis. Outcomes on mental health, well-being and ACT processes were reviewed, and results across studies were mixed. Most studies found significant improvements in mental health and well-being outcomes following the ACT intervention; however less than half found improvements in ACT process measures. Subgroups, such as those with elevated mental health symptoms, had better outcomes. There were no changes in measures of psychological inflexibility. However, methodological issues limited the interpretation of findings. Heterogeneity between studies and methodological issues made it difficult for this review to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of universal online self-help ACT interventions for young people. Future research with consistent approaches is needed across these types of interventions to improve methodological rigour to determine whether these interventions are effective.

Self-management, self-care, and self-help in adolescents with emotional problems: a scoping review

This study aimed to review the existing published and grey literature describing the concepts of self-management, self-care, and self-help, and to capture strategies or techniques related to these concepts, for adolescents with emotional problems. Emotional problems are rising amongst adolescents, yet timely access to specialist mental health treatment is limited to those with greater severity of mental health difficulties. Self-management, self-care, and self-help strategies may be used by adolescents with emotional problems both in terms of those waiting for treatment and to prevent relapse. Given the overlap in existing definitions and the lack of clarity around these concepts in an adolescent mental health context, a scoping review of the literature is warranted to provide clarity. Eligible studies were those involving adolescents aged 10 to 19 years with symptoms of emotional problems. Studies referenced self-management, self-care, or self-help, not involving a professional, in this population. Quantitative, qualitative, economic, and mixed methods studies, as well as systematic, scoping, and literature reviews, from 2000 onwards and in the English language, were eligible for inclusion. A systematic search was conducted of both published and grey literature. Databases searched included PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus. Mednar was also searched for unpublished studies and grey literature. Tables  of themes, terms, and associated strategies are presented alongside a thematic analysis of the results. 62 articles were included. These were 20 quantitative studies, 14 systematic reviews, 10 qualitative studies, five review papers, four book chapters, four mixed methods studies, two dissertations, two meta-analyses and one scoping review and systematic review. Most of the included articles referenced self-help (n = 51), followed by self-management (n = 17) and self-care (n = 6). A total of 12 themes were identified from a reflexive thematic analysis of descriptions (and associated strategies) of self-management, self-help, or self-care in included texts. This scoping review provides clarity on the similarities and differences between how these concepts are discussed, and the strategies which are associated with each of these concepts in the relevant literature. Implications for policy and intervention development for adolescents' self-management, self-help, and self-care of their mental health are discussed. There is considerable overlap in both the ways in which these concepts are described, and the strategies or approaches proposed in relation to them, supporting previous research suggesting these strategies should be grouped under a single term, such as "self or community approaches." More research is needed for self-management, self-help, and self-care amongst marginalized groups as these adolescents may have the highest unmet need for mental health support.

Guided self-help mindfulness-based intervention for increasing psychological resilience and reducing job burnout in psychiatric nurses: A randomized controlled trial

AIMS

The present study aimed to explore the effects of a guided self-help mindfulness intervention on psychological resilience and job burnout among psychiatric nurses.

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric nurses work in challenging and potentially high stress settings. Mindfulness interventions can improve psychological resilience and reduce job burnout of nurses. However, face-to-face delivery of mindfulness interventions may be inconvenient for individuals. Guided self-help interventions may be more accessible.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial was conducted from January to August 2022. One hundred and eighteen psychiatric nurses were randomized into the intervention and control groups. The individuals in the intervention group received an 8-week guided self-help mindfulness intervention, while the individuals in the control group received a psycho-educational brochure. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey were used to evaluate the levels of mindfulness, psychological resilience and job burnout, respectively.

RESULTS

After an 8-week intervention, compared with the control group, the levels of mindfulness and psychological resilience were higher, while the level of job burnout was lower in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

The guided self-help mindfulness intervention can improve psychological resilience and reduce job burnout among psychiatric nurses.

The therapeutic effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based chatbots in alleviation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in short-course treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The emergence of artificial intelligence-based chatbot has revolutionized the field of clinical psychology and psychotherapy, granting individuals unprecedented access to professional assistance, overcoming time constraints and geographical limitations with cost-effective convenience. However, despite its potential, there has been a noticeable gap in the literature regarding their effectiveness in addressing common mental health issues like depression and anxiety. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of AI-based chatbots in treating these conditions.

METHODS

A systematic search was executed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Embase on April 4th, 2024. The effect size of treatment efficacy was calculated using the standardized mean difference (Hedge's g). Quality assessment measures were implemented to ensure trial's quality.

RESULTS

In our analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 3477 participants, we observed noteworthy improvements in depression (g = -0.26, 95 % CI = -0.34, -0.17) and anxiety (g = -0.19, 95 % CI = -0.29, -0.09) symptoms. The most significant benefits were evident after 8 weeks of treatment. However, at the three-month follow-up, no substantial effects were detected for either condition.

LIMITATIONS

Several limitations should be considered. These include the lack of diversity in the study populations, variations in chatbot design, and the use of different psychotherapeutic approaches. These factors may limit the generalizability of our findings.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis highlights the promising role of AI-based chatbot interventions in alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms among adults. Our results indicate that these interventions can yield substantial improvements over a relatively brief treatment period.

Outcomes of Best-Practice Guided Digital Mental Health Interventions for Youth and Young Adults with Emerging Symptoms: Part I. A Systematic Review of Socioemotional Outcomes and Recommendations

Youth-specific digital mental health interventions (DMHI) represent an emerging field of study, and aim to increase access, improve socioemotional outcomes, and, where required, support triage to targeted interventions. However, prior reviews have reported inconsistent findings on the clinical effectiveness of such interventions in young adults (12-25 years). Further, shortfalls remain for the impact of guided interventions based on the mode of delivery and the type of human support personnel (e.g., professional or peer) guiding the intervention. In response, this systematic review, co-designed with Australia's leading mental health organization, aims to assess the effectiveness of guided digital programs in improving youth socioemotional outcomes. Included studies involve young people experiencing mental ill-health, receiving brief (i.e., 1-12 sessions), digitally delivered (at least partially) psychological interventions that were guided or partially guided, tested in a type of experimental study, with a socioemotional outcome. Specific socioemotional outcomes examined were depression, anxiety, stress, wellbeing, mindfulness, and quality of life. A systematic search of the contemporary published and grey literature identified 22,482 records with 32 relevant records published between 2018 and 2023. A narrative synthesis guided integration of findings. Results demonstrated strong evidence for the effectiveness of guided interventions on socioemotional outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress) yet these effects were short-lived. When factoring in the use of different control groups (i.e., active vs. inactive), inconsistent effects were observed for the socioemotional outcomes of depression, anxiety, and stress. The mode of delivery (i.e., asynchronous, synchronous, combined) and the type of human support personnel did not appear to impact socioemotional outcomes. Results indicate efficacious brief digital interventions for depression and anxiety include refresher/follow-up content, goal setting content, and relapse prevention content. In contrast, poor efficacy is associated with interventions that include homework tasks, self-monitoring, and log-keeping content.PROSPERO, ID CRD42023405812.

A randomized controlled trial on COGITO, a free self-help smartphone app to enhance mental well-being

BACKGROUND

Smartphone apps may help to prevent the transition from minor to severe mental health problems. We compared a free self-help smartphone app (COGITO; www.uke.de/cogito_app) against a wait-list condition for the improvement of self-esteem and depression.

METHODS

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale represented the primary outcome in this controlled trial. The final sample (n = 213) was randomly assigned to either the app or to the control condition.

RESULTS

The app condition significantly improved the primary outcome relative to controls for all analyses. Satisfaction of completers was high. The present results warrant independent replication; the retention rate needs to be increased to allow solid inferences about acceptance.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that the COGITO app may represent an effective self-help tool for psychological problems.

Developing a hope-focused intervention to prevent mental health problems and improve social outcomes for young women who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET): A qualitative co-design study in deprived coastal communities in South-East England

Young women who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) experience poorer health and social outcomes compared to non-NEET young women and to NEET young men, especially in deprived areas with intersecting inequalities. The evidence on effective public health approaches is scarce. Interventions that target hope, which NEET young women notably lack, offer a promising theory-driven and intuitive means to prevent mental health problems and improve social outcomes. Hope can be defined as a goal-focused mindset comprising self-agency (motivation and self-belief) and pathways (identifying routes to achieving goals). Hope is implicated in a variety of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for young people, but is not directly targeted by existing prevention programmes for NEET populations. The current study used a phased qualitative research design and participatory methods to model a hope-focused intervention for NEET young women. Phase 1 investigated population needs and intervention parameters through semi-structured interviews with 28 key informants living or working in disadvantaged coastal communities in South-East England. The sample comprised eight NEET young women, four family members, and 16 practitioners from relevant support organisations. Phase 2 refined intervention parameters and outcomes through co-design sessions with four NEET young women, followed by a theory of change workshop with 10 practitioners. The resulting intervention model is articulated as a mentor-supported, in-person psychosocial intervention that builds hope by enhancing positive sense of self and time spent in meaningful activities, before explicitly teaching the skills needed to identify, set, and pursue personally meaningful goals.

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition characterized by distressing, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety. Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) has emerged as an effective treatment modality for various mental health disorders. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of guided self-help ICBT (GSH ICBT) and unguided self-help ICBT (SH ICBT) against active and passive control conditions in adults with OCD. A comprehensive systematic literature search yielded 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 15 comparison arms (N = 1416) that met the inclusion criteria. Results indicate that GSH ICBT significantly reduced OCD symptomatology posttreatment compared to active controls (g = 0.378, k = 9), with no significant effects maintained at follow-up (g = 0.153, k = 4). GSH ICBT was also found to be as effective as active CBT interventions in reducing comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms posttreatment (g = 0.278, k = 6) and at follow-up (g = 0.124, k = 4). However, improvements in quality of life were not significant posttreatment (g = 0.115, k = 4) nor at follow-up (g = 0.179, k = 3). Combined GSH and SH ICBT demonstrated large effects on reducing OCD symptoms (g = 0.754, k = 6), medium effects on comorbid symptoms (g = 0.547, k = 6) and small effects on quality of life (g = 0.227, k = 2) when compared to inactive controls. No significant differences were found between GSH and SH ICBT in all measured outcomes posttreatment (OCD: g = 0.098, k = 3; AD: g = 0.070, k = 3; QoL: g = -0.030, k = 1) and at follow-up (OCD: g = 0.265, k = 2; AD: g = 0.084, k = 2; QoL: g = 0.00, k = 1). Sample size was identified as a significant moderator of treatment effects. This paper further explores clinical significance, treatment adherence, therapist time investment and moderator influences of the ICBT. The limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are thoroughly discussed.

Understanding parent perspectives on engagement with online youth-focused mental health programs

OBJECTIVE

Online youth-focused health programs often include parent modules-that equip parents with skills to assist their child in improving their health-alongside youth-specific content. BRAVE Self-Help, an evidence-based program designed for children and teenagers with early signs of anxiety, is a popular Australian program that includes six parent modules. Despite its popularity and proven efficacy, BRAVE Self-Help shares the same challenge as many online self-help programs-that of low participant engagement. Using parents registered in BRAVE Self-Help as 'information rich' participants, we explored (a) factors that influenced parent engagement in online health programs, and (b) their recommendations for enhancing parent engagement.

DESIGN AND OUTCOME MEASURE

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 parents registered in BRAVE Self-Help. Data were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Social-, family- and program-related factors drove parents' program engagement and recommendations. Social sub-themes related to the benefits of professional and community support in promoting more engagement. Family sub-themes included difficulties with program engagement due to competing priorities, perceptions that condition severity influenced engagement, and feelings that previously-acquired health knowledge reduced motivation to engage. Program sub-themes included perceived usefulness and ease-of-use.

CONCLUSION

Program designers could target support systems, include flexible delivery options, and use iterative design processes to enhance parent engagement.

Guided self-help treatment for children and young people with threshold and subthreshold eating disorders: A pilot study protocol

BACKGROUND

Prompt access to evidence-based treatment for children and young people with eating disorders is important for outcomes, yet the gap in service provision remains pervasive. Record levels of young people are waiting for eating disorder treatment and access to care is limited. Guided self-help interventions that are brief and require minimal clinician support have the potential to meet the unprecedented demand for treatment quickly and effectively.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the feasibility, acceptability and proof of concept of a novel, CBT guided self-help intervention for children and young people with threshold and subthreshold eating disorders.

METHODS

A single-arm, proof-of-concept pilot study of the CBT guided self-help intervention will be conducted. Children and young people (aged 11-19) with threshold and subthreshold eating disorders will receive a self-help intervention covering the core components of CBT, supported by 8 weekly guidance sessions delivered remotely. Clinical outcomes (eating-related psychopathology and associated impairment, changes in weight, depression, anxiety, and behavioural difficulties) will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks). Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will be measured using various outcomes, including adherence to, and engagement with the intervention, rates of recruitment and retention, measure completion and treatment satisfaction. Qualitative data will also be collected for future intervention refinement.

DISCUSSION

If the intervention is shown to produce clinical benefits in this pilot study, a fully powered randomised pilot study will be warranted with the ultimate goal of increasing access to psychological treatment for children and young people threshold and subthreshold eating disorders.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

This study protocol (S1 File) adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) checklist for trial protocols [1, 2] which can be found in S1 Checklist. The numbers in parentheses in this protocol correspond to the item numbers in the SPIRIT checklist. The order of items has been modified to group similar items.

Process Mechanisms in Behavioral Versus Nondirective Guided Self-help for Parents of Children with Externalizing Behavior

The study examined potential mediating effects of therapist behaviors in the per-protocol sample (n = 108) of a randomized controlled trial comparing a behavioral and a nondirective guided self-help intervention for parents of children with externalizing disorders (4-11 years). Additionally, from an exploratory perspective, we analyzed a sequential model with parental adherence as second mediator following therapist behavior. Outcomes were child symptom severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder rated by blinded clinicians, and parent-rated child functional impairment. We found a significant indirect effect on the reduction of ADHD and functional impairment through emotion- and relationship-focused therapist behavior in the nondirective intervention. Additionally, we found limited support for an extended sequential mediation effect through therapist behavior and parental adherence in the models for these outcomes. The study proposes potential mediating mechanisms unique to the nondirective intervention and complements previous findings on mediator processes in favor of the behavioral group. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01350986.

Use of automated conversational agents in improving young population mental health: a scoping review

Automated conversational agents (CAs) emerged as a promising solution in mental health interventions among young people. Therefore, the objective of this scoping review is to examine the current state of research into fully automated CAs mediated interventions for the emotional component of mental health among young people. Selected databases were searched in March 2023. Included studies were primary research, reporting on development, feasibility/usability, or evaluation of fully automated CAs as a tool to improve the emotional component of mental health among young population. Twenty-five studies were included (N = 1707). Most automated CAs applications were standalone preventions targeting anxiety and depression. Automated CAs were predominantly AI-based chatbots, using text as the main communication channel. Overall, the results of the current scoping review showed that automated CAs mediated interventions for emotional problems are acceptable, engaging and with high usability. However, the results for clinical efficacy are far less conclusive, since almost half of evaluation studies reported no significant effect on emotional mental health outcomes. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that there is a pressing need to improve the existing automated CAs applications to increase their efficacy as well as conducting more rigorous methodological research in this area.

A comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural interventions based on delivery features for elevated symptoms of depression in adolescents: A systematic review

Background

Depression is a public health problem and common amongst adolescents. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is widely used to treat adolescent depression but existing research does not provide clear conclusions regarding the relative effectiveness of different delivery modalities.

Objectives

The primary aim is to estimate the relative efficacy of different modes of CBT delivery compared with each other and control conditions for reducing depressive symptoms in adolescents. The secondary aim is to compare the different modes of delivery with regard to intervention completion/attrition (a proxy for intervention acceptability).

Search Methods

The Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Clinical Trials Register was searched in April 2020. MEDLINE, PsycInfo, EMBASE, four other electronic databases, the CENTRAL trial registry, Google Scholar and Google were searched in November 2020, together with reference checking, citation searching and hand-searching of two databases.

Selection Criteria

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of CBT interventions (irrespective of delivery mode) to reduce symptoms of depression in young people aged 10-19 years with clinically relevant symptoms or diagnosis of depression were included.

Data Collection and Analysis

Screening and data extraction were completed by two authors independently, with discrepancies addressed by a third author. CBT interventions were categorised as follows: group CBT, individual CBT, remote CBT, guided self-help, and unguided self-help. Effect on depressive symptom score was estimated across validated self-report measures using Hedges' g standardised mean difference. Acceptability was estimated based on loss to follow-up as an odds ratio. Treatment rankings were developed using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Pairwise meta-analyses were conducted using random effects models where there were two or more head-to-head trials. Network analyses were conducted using random effects models.

Main Results

Sixty-eight studies were included in the review. The mean age of participants ranged from 10 to 19.5 years, and on average 60% of participants were female. The majority of studies were conducted in schools (28) or universities (6); other settings included primary care, clinical settings and the home. The number of CBT sessions ranged from 1 to 16, the frequency of delivery from once every 2 weeks to twice a week and the duration of each session from 20 min to 2 h. The risk of bias was low across all domains for 23 studies, 24 studies had some concerns and the remaining 21 were assessed to be at high risk of bias. Sixty-two RCTs (representing 6435 participants) were included in the pairwise and network meta-analyses for post-intervention depressive symptom score at post-intervention. All pre-specified treatment and control categories were represented by at least one RCT. Although most CBT approaches, except remote CBT, demonstrated superiority over no intervention, no approaches performed clearly better than or equivalent to another. The highest and lowest ranking interventions were guided self-help (SUCRA 83%) and unguided self-help (SUCRA 51%), respectively (very low certainty in treatment ranking). Nineteen RCTs (3260 participants) were included in the pairwise and network meta-analyses for 6 to 12 month follow-up depressive symptom score. Neither guided self-help nor remote CBT were evaluated in the RCTs for this time point. Effects were generally attenuated for 6- to 12-month outcomes compared to posttest. No interventions demonstrated superiority to no intervention, although unguided self-help and group CBT both demonstrated superiority compared to TAU. No CBT approach demonstrated clear superiority over another. The highest and lowest ranking approaches were unguided self-help and individual CBT, respectively. Sixty-two RCTs (7347 participants) were included in the pairwise and network meta-analyses for intervention acceptability. All pre-specified treatment and control categories were represented by at least one RCT. Although point estimates tended to favour no intervention, no active treatments were clearly inferior. No CBT approach demonstrated clear superiority over another. The highest and lowest ranking active interventions were individual CBT and group CBT respectively. Pairwise meta-analytic findings were similar to those of the network meta-analysis for all analyses. There may be age-based subgroup effects on post-intervention depressive symptoms. Using the no intervention control group as the reference, the magnitudes of effects appear to be larger for the oldest age categories compared to the other subgroups for each given comparison. However, they were generally less precise and formal testing only indicated a significant difference for group CBT. Findings were robust to pre-specified sensitivity analyses separating out the type of placebo and excluding cluster-RCTs, as well as an additional analysis excluding studies where we had imputed standard deviations.

Authors' Conclusions

At posttreatment, all active treatments (group CBT, individual CBT, guided self-help, and unguided self-help) except for remote CBT were more effective than no treatment. Guided self-help was the most highly ranked intervention but only evaluated in trials with the oldest adolescents (16-19 years). Moreover, the studies of guided self-help vary in the type and amount of therapist support provided and longer-term results are needed to determine whether effects persist. The magnitude of effects was generally attenuated for 6- to 12-month outcomes. Although unguided self-help was the lowest-ranked active intervention at post-intervention, it was the highest ranked at follow-up. This suggests the need for further research into whether interventions with self-directed elements enable young people to maintain effects by continuing or revisiting the intervention independently, and whether therapist support would improve long-term outcomes. There was no clear evidence that any active treatments were more acceptable to participants than any others. The relative effectiveness of intervention delivery modes must be taken into account in the context of the needs and preferences of individual young people, particularly as the differences between effect sizes were relatively small. Further research into the type and amount of therapist support that is most acceptable to young people and most cost-effective would be particularly useful.

Trends in comorbid physical and mental health conditions in children from 1999 to 2017 in England

INTRODUCTION

Children with long-term physical health conditions (pLTCs) are at increased risk of mental health conditions but less is known about time trends in the mental health of this group of children.

METHODS

We used data from three comparable, population-based surveys of children conducted in 1999, 2004, and 2017. We examined whether the proportion of children aged 5-15 years old with comorbid mental health conditions (measured using the multi-informant Development and Well-being Assessment tool) and pLTCs (measured using parental report) in England increased from 1999 to 2017 using linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Our analysis used data from 8662 (1999), 6401 (2004) and 6219 (2017) children, respectively. The proportion of children with comorbid pLTCs and psychiatric disorders was 0.050 (95% CI = 0.045, 0.055) in 1999, 0.054 (95% CI = 0.049, 0.060) in 2004, and 0.059 (95% CI = 0.053, 0.065) in 2017. The linear regression model revealed a non-significant effect of time on the proportion of children with comorbid pLTCs and psychiatric disorders from 1999 to 2017 (B = 0.0004785; SE = 0.0001256; p = 0.163).

CONCLUSION

The estimated prevalence of school-aged children with comorbid pLTCs and mental health conditions in England remained stable since 1999, highlighting the need to prioritize mental health resources for children with physical health comorbidities.

What Do We Know About Depression Among Youth and How Can We Make Progress Toward Improved Understanding and Reducing Distress? A New Hope

This paper summarizes many findings about depression among children and adolescents. Depression is prevalent, highly distressing, and exerts considerable burden worldwide. Rates surge from childhood through young adulthood and have increased over the last decade. Many risk factors have been identified, and evidence-based interventions exist targeting mostly individual-level changes via psychological or pharmacological means. At the same time, the field appears stuck and has not achieved considerable progress in advancing scientific understanding of depression's features or delivering interventions to meet the challenge of youth depression's high and growing prevalence. This paper adopts several positions to address these challenges and move the field forward. First, we emphasize reinvigoration of construct validation approaches that may better characterize youth depression's phenomenological features and inform more valid and reliable assessments that can enhance scientific understanding and improve interventions for youth depression. To this end, history and philosophical principles affecting depression's conceptualization and measurement are considered. Second, we suggest expanding the range and targets of treatments and prevention efforts beyond current practice guidelines for evidence-based interventions. This broader suite of interventions includes structural- and system-level change focused at community and societal levels (e.g., evidence-based economic anti-poverty interventions) and personalized interventions with sufficient evidence base. We propose that by focusing on the FORCE (Fundamentals, Openness, Relationships, Constructs, Evidence), youth depression research can provide new hope.

Global priorities for improving access to mental health services for adolescents in the post-pandemic world

Although several mental health conditions have their onset during adolescence, a very small proportion of adolescents receive adequate evidence-based interventions. There are both demand and supply-side barriers to accessing mental healthcare. The problem has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the general life, health care services, and mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults across the globe. Despite multiple implementation challenges, interventions delivered in school settings and using digital health technologies can improve access to mental health care for adolescents, especially given the reverberations of the COVID era. While designing adolescent mental health programs, special emphasis needs to be on equity and trying to reach out to adolescents who need services the most.

The Influence of Comorbidity and Perceived Complexity on Outcomes of Referrals to Children and Young Person Mental Health Services (UK): A Mixed Methods Vignette Study

Children and young people (CYP) with long-term physical conditions (LTCs) are four times more likely to develop mental health disorders yet many cannot access Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) or evidence-based interventions. This study aimed to understand the reasons for this; presence of an LTC neurodevelopmental disorder, or service requirements. 79 CYP mental health practitioners were randomly assigned to read vignettes depicting a hypothetical referral letter for a child with a mental health condition alone (n = 27), mental health condition and LTC (n = 25), or mental health condition and neurodevelopmental disorder (Autism Spectrum Disorder-ASD) (n = 27), answering questions about their likelihood of accepting the referral and proposed treatment plan. There were no significant differences between accessing CYPMHS or being offered first line evidence-based interventions in those with a LTC or ASD compared to those without. However, additional perceived complexity was frequently provided as a reason for rejecting referrals and not offering evidence-based intervention, with clinicians' predicted success of intervention significantly lower for these CYP. Clinicians were significantly more likely to suggest adapting the intervention in the LTC and the ASD groups to account for additional perceived complexity. The research suggests a need for additional services for CYP with LTCs and those with neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as training/awareness for clinicians.

Community interventions for anxiety and depression in adults and young people: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests that community-based interventions may be effective for anxiety and depression. This study aimed to describe studies of community interventions delivered to adults and/or young people, either in person or online, evaluated in randomised controlled trials and provide an indication as to their effectiveness, acceptability, quality of data and where possible, mechanisms of action. We included interventions delivered at and/or by museums, art galleries, libraries, gardens, music groups/choirs and sports clubs.

METHOD

We developed and followed a preregistered protocol: PROSPERO CRD42020204471. Randomised controlled trials in adults and young people were identified in an extensive search with no date/time, language, document type and publication status limitations. Studies were selected according to predetermined eligibility criteria and data independently extracted and then assessed using Risk of Bias 1. The studies were deemed too heterogeneous for meta-analysis and were therefore reported using a narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 31 studies, with 2898 participants. Community interventions most studied in randomised controlled trials were community music (12 studies, 1432 participants), community exercise (14 studies, 955 participants) and community gardens/gardening (6 studies, 335 participants). The majority of studies were from high-income countries - many were in specific populations (such as those with physical health problems) and were generally of low quality. Dropout rates across the included studies were low (1 participant on average per 100 participants). The inadequate description of interventions limited identification of potential mechanisms of action.

DISCUSSION

The uncertainty of the evidence allows only a weak recommendation in support of community interventions for anxiety and depression. The results suggest community engagement is a promising area for wide-reaching interventions to be implemented and evaluated, but more high-quality trials are needed, especially in young people and under-represented communities.

Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: A summary and overview of the literature

Considerable work has advanced understanding of the nature, causes, management, and prevention of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents over the past 30 years. Prior to this time the primary focus was on school refusal and specific phobias. It is now recognised that children and adolescents experience the full gamut of anxiety disorders in very similar ways to adults and that anxiety disorders in the paediatric years can predict a lifelong mental-health struggle. Given the vast array of specific studies in this field, the current review summarises current knowledge about these high prevalence disorders, points to overarching limitations, and suggests potentially important future directions. Following a brief historical overview, the review summarises knowledge about demographic and epidemiological characteristics, distal and proximal risk factors, current treatment directions, and prevention. There is still a great deal to learn about the causes and treatments of child and adolescent anxiety disorders. By amalgamating our current knowledge, this review provides a window to the research directions that are likely to lead to future advances.

Improving programme-led and focused interventions for eating disorders: An experts' consensus statement-A UK perspective

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorders are associated with significant illness burden and costs, yet access to evidence-based care is limited. Greater use of programme-led and focused interventions that are less resource-intensive might be part of the solution to this demand-capacity mismatch.

METHOD

In October 2022, a group of predominantly UK-based clinical and academic researchers, charity representatives and people with lived experience convened to consider ways to improve access to, and efficacy of, programme-led and focused interventions for eating disorders in an attempt to bridge the demand-capacity gap.

RESULTS

Several key recommendations were made across areas of research, policy, and practice. Of particular importance is the view that programme-led and focused interventions are suitable for a range of different eating disorder presentations across all ages, providing medical and psychiatric risk are closely monitored. The terminology used for these interventions should be carefully considered, so as not to imply that the treatment is suboptimal.

CONCLUSIONS

Programme-led and focused interventions are a viable option to close the demand-capacity gap for eating disorder treatment and are particularly needed for children and young people. Work is urgently needed across sectors to evaluate and implement such interventions as a clinical and research priority.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Technology-Enhanced Family-Focused Therapy for Youth in the Early Stages of Mood Disorders

Objective

Family-focused therapy (FFT) is associated with enhanced outcomes in youth with bipolar and depressive disorders, but has not been evaluated in conjunction with mobile health tools. In symptomatic adolescents whose parents had histories of mood disorders, we examined whether the effects of telehealth-based FFT were augmented by mobile health apps that emphasized mood tracking and family coping skills.

Method

Participants (aged 13-19 years) had active mood symptoms and a parent with major depressive or bipolar disorder. Participants received 12 sessions in 18 weeks of telehealth FFT, with random assignment to (1) a mobile app (MyCoachConnect, MCC) that enabled mood tracking, reviews of session content, and text reminders to practice mood management and family communication skills (FFT-MCC); or (2) a mobile app that enabled mood tracking only (FFT-Track). Independent evaluators assessed youth every 9 weeks over 6 months on depressive symptoms (primary outcome), anxiety, and psychosocial functioning.

Results

Participants (N = 65; mean age 15.8 ± 1.6 years) significantly improved in depressive symptoms over 6 months (F1,170 = 45.02, p < .0001; ή2 = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.11-0.31), but there were no effects of treatment condition or treatment by time interactions on depression scores. When secondary outcome measures were considered, the subgroup of youth with bipolar spectrum disorders showed greater improvements in anxiety and global functioning in FFT-MCC compared with FFT-Track.

Conclusion

Youth in the early stages of mood disorder may benefit from FFT enhanced by mobile health apps. Collaborations between researchers and information technologists on mobile app design and user experience may lead to increases in engagement among adolescents.

Clinical trial registration information

Technology Enhanced Family Treatment; https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT03913013.

The Impact of a Gamified Mobile Mental Health App (eQuoo) on Resilience and Mental Health in a Student Population: Large-Scale Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

With many digital mental health interventions failing to engage clients for enough time to demonstrate substantive changes to their well-being and with only 2% of all digital solutions on app stores having undergone randomized controlled trials, the rising demand for mental health prevention and early intervention care is not being met. Young adults in particular struggle to find digital well-being apps that suit their needs.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the effects of eQuoo, an evidence-based mental health game that teaches psychological skills through gamification, on resilience, depression, anxiety, and attrition in a student population.

METHODS

In total, 1165 students from 180 universities in the United Kingdom participated in a 5-week, 3-armed randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly allocated into 1 of 3 groups: eQuoo users, users of a treatment-as-usual evidence-based cognitive behavioral health app called Sanvello, and a no-intervention waitlist. The Rugged Resilience Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Patient Health Questionnaire-8 were administered to all participants at baseline and every 7 days until completion.

RESULTS

A repeated measures-ANOVA revealed statistically significant increases in resilience scores in the test group (P<.001) compared with both control groups (Sanvello: P=.10 and waitlist: P=.82) over 5 weeks. The app also significantly decreased anxiety and depression scores (both P<.001). With 64.5% (251/389) adherence, the eQuoo group retained 42% more participants than the control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital health interventions such as eQuoo are effective, scalable, and low-cost solutions for supporting young adults and are available on all leading mobile platforms. Further investigation could clarify the extent to which specific elements of the eQuoo app (including gamification) led to better outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00027638; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00027638.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Stepped-Care for Anxious Adolescents in Community Mental Health Services: A Secondary Analysis

Initial research suggests stepped-care approaches to therapy for youth anxiety is associated with reduced therapy time with similar therapeutic outcomes to treatment-as-usual in real-world settings. Research on the acceptability and feasibility of stepped-care approaches in routine practice is very limited. In a secondary analysis of a pilot randomised controlled trial that compared stepped-care to treatment-as-usual in adolescent mental health services, we examine acceptability and feasibility from consumer and clinician perspectives. Fifteen adolescents and ten clinicians provided brief quantitative and qualitative feedback. Some benefits were noted and these related to improved access to treatment; however, major barriers were also noted. Concerns related to the lack of consumer and clinician choice and flexibility in delivery of stepped interventions, challenges engaging adolescents with internet interventions and associated guided telephone calls, and workplace issues. Systemic changes to facilitate consumer preferences, clinician flexibility and staffing are needed for stepped-care to be feasible in routine care.

Perceptions of the key components of effective, acceptable and accessible services for children and young people experiencing common mental health problems: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Children and young people's (CYP) mental health is a major public health concern internationally and the recent Covid-19 pandemic has amplified these concerns. However, only a minority of CYP receive support from mental health services due to the attitudinal and structural barriers they and their families encounter. For over 20 years, report after report has consistently highlighted the shortcomings of mental health services for CYP in the United Kingdom and attempts to improve services have been largely unsuccessful. The findings reported in this paper are from a multi-stage study that aimed to develop a model of effective, high-quality service design for CYP experiencing common mental health problems. The aim of the stage reported here was to identify CYP's, parents' and service providers' perceptions of the effectiveness, acceptability and accessibility of services.

METHODS

Case studies were conducted of nine different services for CYP with common mental health problems in England and Wales. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 41 young people, 26 parents and 41 practitioners and were analysed using the Framework approach. Patient and Public Involvement was integrated throughout the study with a group of young co-researchers participating in data collection and analysis.

RESULTS

Four key themes defined participants' perceptions of service effectiveness, acceptability and accessibility. Firstly, open access to support with participants highlighting the importance of self-referral, support at the point of need and service availability to CYP/parents. Secondly, the development of therapeutic relationships to promote service engagement which was based on assessment of practitioner's personal qualities, interpersonal skills and mental health expertise and underpinned by relational continuity. Thirdly, personalisation was viewed as promoting service appropriateness and effectiveness by ensuring support was tailored to the individual. Fourthly, the development of self-care skills and mental health literacy helped CYP/parents manage and improve their/their child's mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

This study contributes to knowledge by identifying four components that are perceived to be central to providing effective, acceptable and accessible mental health services for CYP with common mental health problems irrespective of service model or provider. These components could be used as the foundations for designing and improving services.

Low intensity psychological interventions for the treatment of feeding and eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Feeding and eating disorders are associated with significant illness burden and costs, yet access to evidence-based care is limited. Low intensity psychological interventions have the potential to increase such access.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on the use of low intensity psychological interventions for the treatment of feeding and eating disorders. Studies comparing low intensity psychological interventions against high intensity therapies and non-eating disorder specific psychological interventions were included, as well as those with waiting list control arms. There were three primary outcomes: eating disorder psychopathology, diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) severity specifier-related outcomes and rates of remission/recovery.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 3665 participants, and 30 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to high intensity therapies, low intensity psychological interventions were equivalent on reducing eating disorder psychopathology (g = - 0.13), more effective at improving DSM severity specifier-related outcomes (g = - 0.15), but less likely to achieve remission/recovery (risk ratio (RR) = 0.70). Low intensity psychological interventions were superior to non-eating disorder specific psychological interventions and waiting list controls across all three primary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Overall, findings suggest that low intensity psychological interventions can successfully treat eating disorder symptoms. Few potential moderators had a statistically significant effect on outcome. The number of studies for many comparisons was low and the methodological quality of the studies was poor, therefore results should be interpreted with caution. More research is needed to establish the effectiveness of low intensity psychological interventions for children and young people, as well as for individuals with anorexia nervosa, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, pica and rumination disorder.

A Relational Agent Intervention for Adolescents Seeking Mental Health Treatment: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Unmet pediatric mental health (MH) needs are growing as rates of pediatric depression and anxiety dramatically increase. Access to care is limited by multiple factors, including a shortage of clinicians trained in developmentally specific, evidence-based services. Novel approaches to MH care delivery, including technology-leveraged and readily accessible options, need to be evaluated in service of expanding evidence-based services to youths and their families. Preliminary evidence supports the use of Woebot, a relational agent that digitally delivers guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) through a mobile app, for adults with MH concerns. However, no studies have evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of such app-delivered relational agents specifically for adolescents with depression and/or anxiety within an outpatient MH clinic, nor compared them to other MH support services.

OBJECTIVE

This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of an investigational device, Woebot for Adolescents (W-GenZD), within an outpatient MH clinic for youths presenting with depression and/or anxiety. The study's secondary aim will compare the clinical outcomes of self-reported depressive symptoms with W-GenZD and a telehealth-delivered CBT-based skills group (CBT-group). Tertiary aims will evaluate additional clinical outcomes and therapeutic alliance between adolescents in W-GenZD and the CBT-group.

METHODS

Participants include youths aged 13-17 years with depression and/or anxiety seeking care from an outpatient MH clinic at a children's hospital. Eligible youths will have no recent safety concerns or complex comorbid clinical diagnoses; have no concurrent individual therapy; and, if on medications, are on stable doses, based on clinical screening and as well as study-specific criteria.

RESULTS

Recruitment began in May 2022. As of December 8, 2022, we have randomized 133 participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Establishing the feasibility and acceptability of W-GenZD within an outpatient MH clinical setting will add to the field's current understanding of the utility and implementation considerations of this MH care service modality. The study will also evaluate the noninferiority of W-GenZD against the CBT-group. Findings may also have implications for patients, families, and providers looking for additional MH support options for adolescents seeking help for their depression and/or anxiety. Such options expand the menu of supports for youths with lower-intensity needs as well as possibly reduce waitlists and optimize clinician deployment toward more severe cases.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05372913; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05372913.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/44940.

Mental health mobile application self-help for adolescents exhibiting psychological distress: A single case experimental design

OBJECTIVES

The present demand for child and adolescent mental health services exceeds the capacity for service provision. Greater research is required to understand the utility of accessible self-help interventions, such as mobile apps. This study sought to investigate whether use of a mental health app, underpinned by CBT, led to changes in psychological distress amongst adolescents. Mechanisms of change were examined, specifically whether changes are attributable to cognitive strategies.

DESIGN

This study utilised a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design, tracking variables across baseline and intervention phases. Surveys assessing participant experience were also administered.

METHODS

Five participants with moderate-to-severe levels of psychological distress engaged with a CBT-based app over five weeks. Participants were recruited from both a well-being service and the general population. Supplementary weekly calls to participants offered clarification of app content.

RESULTS

A small overall effect of the intervention of psychological distress was evident; however, outcomes were dependent on the analysis conducted. The intervention appeared to promote an increase in use of adaptive cognitive strategies but not negative thinking styles. The CBT app did not promote changes in participant well-being. Participant feedback highlighted practical challenges of utilising the app.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical benefits of app-based CBT were small, and a range of barriers to engagement were recognised. While further research is required, caution should be exercised in the interpretation of studies reporting on app effectiveness.

Efficient Sufficiency: A qualitative evaluation of a 1 year pilot study of young people and parents accessing a mental health drop-in centre in a paediatric hospital

BACKGROUND

Children and young people with long-term physical health conditions (LTC) are known to have higher levels of co-morbid mental health problems than medically healthy children. Evidence-based treatments for mental health problems are effective in children who also have an LTC. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with participants' perceived acceptability and impact of a transdiagnostic mental health centre offering brief psychological assessment and treatment for children and young people and/or their families with mental health needs in the context of long term physical conditions.

METHODS

One-hundred twenty-eight patients attending the drop-in centre were invited to participate. Overall, 35 participated (31 parents/carers; 4 children and young people) in semi-structured interviews (either in person or by phone) exploring their experience of the centre. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and checked. Framework analysis was then conducted on all transcripts.

RESULTS

Overall, participants found the drop-in centre highly acceptable and reported a positive experience. Reasons for this varied but broadly focused around four themes: (1) efficient sufficiency; (2) autonomy; (3) fusion of process and content factors and (4) (dis)parities of esteems and 'seeing both sides of the coin'.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants found the intervention acceptable. A mental health drop-in centre in a paediatric hospital appears to be a positive and valued adjunct to supplement existing mental health services.

"If there is a tension about something, I can solve it": A qualitative investigation of change processes in a trial of brief problem-solving interventions for common adolescent mental health problems in India

OBJECTIVES

There is limited understanding of change processes and long-term effects of low-intensity psychosocial interventions. We investigated these aspects in two brief problem-solving intervention formats for adolescents with elevated mental health symptoms and associated distress/impairment.

METHODS

This qualitative study was nested within a school-based randomized controlled trial in New Delhi, India, which compared two problem-solving intervention formats: a lay counsellor-led format supported by printed materials (intervention arm) and printed problem-solving materials alone ("bibliotherapy" control arm). A total of 32 participants, ranging in age from 14 to 20 years (mean = 16.4 years, SD = 1.9) and comprising 21 males and 11 females, were interviewed across both trial arms at 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Five themes were derived using thematic framework analysis. The "impacts on symptoms and functioning" theme described symptomatic improvements and functional gains. "Processes underlying problem solving" reflected changes in positive beliefs, attitudes and emotions when confronted with problems, and the use of a more effective problem-solving coping style. "Experiences of problem-solving materials" covered benefits (e.g. access to relatable stories and readymade solutions) and limitations (e.g. diminishing use over time) of printed problem-solving handouts. "Role of supporting figures" accounted for the facilitating roles played by counsellors and trusted others. There were also accounts of researchers functioning as de facto counsellors in the bibliotherapy arm. "Recommended modifications for intervention delivery" included more flexible and private ways to access the interventions, greater personalization of the counselling process, more engaging and relevant supporting materials, and suggestions for widening access to the interventions in schools and community settings.

CONCLUSIONS

We infer from our qualitative analysis that changes in problem-solving style and problem orientation underpinned long-term symptomatic and functional improvements. Participants in the counsellor-led intervention appeared better able to sustain the use of problem-solving skills and generalize this approach beyond the original presenting problems. We attribute the differences between arms to the influence of direct advice and supportive interactions with counsellors. Practice implications are discussed.

The efficacy of randomised controlled trials of guided and unguided self-help interventions for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders in young people: A systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Guided and unguided self-help prevention and treatment interventions for eating disorders delivered via traditional book format or internet delivery have been widely researched, but no reviews have focused specifically on young people. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy of randomised controlled trials of self-help interventions for eating disorders in young people with a mean age between 13 and 24 years.

METHODS

A total of 8 intervention groups across 7 publications of self-help interventions which were prevention and treatment trials for eating disorders, were identified (N = 985 participants; mean pooled age = ∼19 years).

RESULTS

There was a significant very small effect (pooled g = -0.17) of self-help interventions at post-treatment which was non-significant at follow-up (pooled g = -0.14). No evidence of publication bias was found.

LIMITATIONS

There were limitations of the review, including a lack of active treatment comparisons, a small number of trials included, and few studies included an age range.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this preliminary meta-analysis suggest very small but significant effects, however further studies are required to determine whether self-help approaches are effective for prevention and treatment of eating disorder symptoms in young people. Future meta-analyses should include a larger number of trials, and younger age range of children to examine the efficacy of self-help interventions for eating disorders in young people.

Implementing brief and low-intensity psychological interventions for children and young people with internalizing disorders: a rapid realist review

INTRODUCTION

Many children fail to receive the mental health treatments they need, despite strong evidence demonstrating efficacy of brief and low-intensity psychological interventions. This review identifies the barriers and facilitators to their implementation.

SOURCES OF DATA

PsycInfo, EMBASE and Medline were searched and a systematic approach to data extraction using Normalization Process Theory highlighted key mechanisms and contextual factors.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT

Ten interventions from 9 papers, including 371 young people, were included. Studies identified organizational demands, lack of implementation strategy and stigma as barriers to implementation, and clear training and plans for implementation as facilitators.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY

No standardized implementation outcomes were used across papers so meta-analysis was not possible.

GROWING POINTS

Barriers and facilitators have been clearly identified across different settings.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH

Longitudinal studies can identify methods and processes for enhancing long-term implementation and considers ways to monitor and evaluate uptake into routine practice.

Smartphone-delivered mental health care interventions for refugees: A systematic review of the literature

According to the United Nations, an estimated 26.6 million people worldwide were refugees in 2021. Experiences before, during, and after flight increase psychological distress and contribute to a high prevalence of mental disorders. The resulting high need for mental health care is generally not reflected in the actual mental health care provision for refugees. A possible strategy to close this gap might be to offer smartphone-delivered mental health care. This systematic review summarizes the current state of research on smartphone-delivered interventions for refugees, answering the following research questions: (1) Which smartphone-delivered interventions are available for refugees? (2) What do we know about their clinical (efficacy) and (3) nonclinical outcomes (e.g., feasibility, appropriateness, acceptance, and barriers)? (4) What are their dropout rates and dropout reasons? (5) To what extent do smartphone-delivered interventions consider data security? Relevant databases were systematically searched for published studies, gray literature, and unpublished information. In total, 456 data points were screened. Twelve interventions were included (nine interventions from 11 peer-reviewed articles and three interventions without published study reports), comprising nine interventions for adult refugees and three for adolescent and young refugees. Study participants were mostly satisfied with the interventions, indicating adequate acceptability. Only one randomized controlled trial (RCT; from two RCTs and two pilot RCTs) found a significant reduction in the primary clinical outcome compared to the control group. Dropout rates ranged from 2.9 to 80%. In the discussion, the heterogeneous findings are integrated into the current state of literature.

Therapist-guided and self-guided internet-delivered behavioural activation for adolescents with depression: a randomised feasibility trial

OBJECTIVE

Access to effective treatments for adolescents with depression needs to improve. Few studies have evaluated behavioural activation (BA) for adolescent depression, and none remotely delivered BA. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of therapist-guided and self-guided internet-delivered BA (I-BA) in preparation for a future randomised controlled trial (RCT).

DESIGN

A single-blinded randomised controlled feasibility trial.

SETTING

A specialist outpatient clinic in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-two adolescents with mild-to-moderate major depression, aged 13-17 years.

INTERVENTIONS

Ten weeks of therapist-guided I-BA or self-guided I-BA, or treatment as usual (TAU). Both versions of I-BA included parental support. TAU included referral to usual care within child and youth psychiatry or primary care.

OUTCOMES

Feasibility measures included study take-up, participant retention, acceptability, safety and satisfaction. The primary outcome measure was the blinded assessor-rated Children's Depression Rating Scale, Revised. The primary endpoint was the 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

154 adolescents were screened and 32 were randomised to therapist-guided I-BA (n=11), self-guided I-BA (n=10) or TAU (n=11). Participant retention was acceptable, with two drop-outs in TAU. Most participants in TAU had been offered interventions by the primary endpoint. The mean number of completed chapters (total of 8) for adolescents was 7.5 in therapist-guided I-BA and 5.4 in self-guided I-BA. No serious adverse events were recorded. Satisfaction was acceptable in both I-BA groups. Following an intent-to-treat approach, the linear mixed-effects model revealed that both therapist-guided and self-guided I-BA (Cohen's d=2.43 and 2.23, respectively), but not TAU (Cohen's d=0.95), showed statistically significant changes on the primary outcome measure with large within-group effect sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

Both therapist-guided and self-guided I-BA are acceptable and potentially efficacious treatments for adolescents with depression. It is feasible to conduct a large-scale RCT to establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of I-BA versus TAU.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04117789).

The Effectiveness of Internet-Guided Self-help Interventions to Promote Physical Activity Among Individuals With Depression: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Depression is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Physical activity (PA) interventions have been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms. However, not all patients have access to PA programing tailored for depression. Internet-guided self-help (IGSH) interventions may be an effective option for increasing PA among people with depression who cannot or prefer not to access supervised exercise treatment.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IGSH interventions in increasing PA and alleviating depressive symptoms in people with depression.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted for randomized controlled trials and quasiexperimental studies using 9 electronic databases. The review was registered in PROSPERO (2020 CRD42020221713).

RESULTS

A total of 4 randomized controlled trials (430 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 3 were web-based and 1 was app-based. Three studies found IGSH interventions to have medium to large effects on decreasing depressive symptoms but not on increasing PA compared with waitlist or usual care. One study showed increased self-reported PA but no significant difference in depressive symptoms in the intervention group compared with the control group. Goal setting was the most common behavior change technique used in the interventions. Dropout rates within the intervention groups were relatively low (0%-19%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that IGSH PA interventions are feasible and have the potential to reduce depressive symptoms in people with depression. More well-designed and tailored interventions with different combinations of behavior change techniques, particularly those targeting the emotion domain, are needed to assess the overall effectiveness and feasibility of using IGSH interventions to increase PA among people with depression.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020221713; https://tinyurl.com/ysaua5bu.

Tele-medicine and improvement of mental health problems in COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Tele-medicine services have been developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupts mental health services. The present study investigates the effectiveness of telephone-delivered services for psychological disorders in the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials for relevant clinical studies up to February 1, 2022. Following terms were used: "severe acute respiratory syndrome", "Coronavirus", "Coronavirus infection", "SARS-CoV-2", "COVID-19", "mental disorder", "mental health", "mental health program", "mental health service", "psychiatric service", "telemedicine", "Telehealth", "Tele-health", "Telecare", "Mobile health".

RESULTS

Twelve relevant clinical articles were included in our study. Eight articles were parallel randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two were Quasi-experimental, and one was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. A total of 1900 adults (18 years old or above that) were included. Online telecommunication methods like online apps and videoconference were the most common interventions. The most prevalent measured outcome was levels of anxiety and depression among participants. Eleven out of 12 articles showed a significant association between telemedicine and mental health improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The included studies in the current systematic review reported the probable efficacy of telemedicine in improving mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is not possible to determine the best telecommunication method for each mental disorder in different populations and the preference of patients is still face to face therapy. So RCTs in different populations with previous mental disorders or chronic diseases are required to investigate the further telemedicine's efficacy on managing mental problems.

A qualitative investigation of LGBTQ+ young people's experiences and perceptions of self-managing their mental health

There is evidence that young people generally self-manage their mental health using self-care strategies, coping methods and other self-management techniques, which may better meet their needs or be preferable to attending specialist mental health services. LGBTQ+ young people are more likely than their peers to experience a mental health difficulty and may be less likely to draw on specialist support due to fears of discrimination. However, little is known about LGBTQ+ young people's experiences and perceptions of self-managing their mental health. Using a multimodal qualitative design, 20 LGBTQ+ young people participated in a telephone interview or an online focus group. A semi-structured schedule was employed to address the research questions, which focussed on LGBTQ+ young people's experiences and perceptions of self-managing their mental health, what they perceived to stop or help them to self-manage and any perceived challenges to self-management specifically relating to being LGBTQ+ . Reflexive thematic analysis yielded three key themes: (1) self-management strategies and process, (2) barriers to self-management and (3) facilitators to self-management. Participants' most frequently mentioned self-management strategy was 'speaking to or meeting up with friends or a partner'. Both barriers and facilitators to self-management were identified which participants perceived to relate to LGBTQ+ identity. Social support, LGBTQ+ youth groups and community support were identified as key facilitators to participants' self-management of their mental health, which merits further investigation in future research. These findings also have important implications for policy and intervention development concerning LGBTQ+ young people's mental health.

Self-help Digital Interventions Targeted at Improving Psychological Well-being in Young People With Perceived or Clinically Diagnosed Reduced Well-being: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Levels of well-being are declining, whereas rates of mental health problems remain high in young people. The World Health Organization defines mental health as not merely the absence of mental disorder but also includes social and psychological well-being as integral to positive mental health, highlighting that mental health is applicable to young people with mental health conditions and those without a diagnosis of a mental health condition. Reduced mental well-being have been identified in studies of young people with clinical populations, as well as in populations consisting of nonclinical young people. Self-help digital interventions can be delivered at mass at a low cost and without the need for trained input, thereby facilitating access to support for well-being. Self-help interventions are effective in young people with mental health conditions, but systematic reviews of such studies have been limited to randomized controlled trials, have not included reduced well-being as an inclusion criterion, and do not consider engagement factors such as retention.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to systematically review all controlled studies of digitally delivered, self-administered interventions for young people aged 9 to 25 years, with perceived or clinically diagnosed reduced psychological well-being. Participant retention and effectiveness of the interventions were also explored.

METHODS

A systematic search of the PsycInfo, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and MEDLINE databases from inception to 2021, reference searches of relevant papers, and gray literature was carried out for digitally controlled studies conducted with young people with perceived or clinically diagnosed reduced well-being, aimed at improving psychological well-being. Data were extracted to identify the effectiveness and retention rates of the interventions and the quality of the studies.

RESULTS

Overall, 1.04% (12/1153) of studies met the inclusion criteria: 83% (10/12) of studies were randomized controlled trials and 17% (2/12) were controlled pre-post studies. Most (6/12, 50%) studies aimed to improve symptoms of depression; 3 interventions aimed at both anxiety and depressive symptoms and 2 studies aimed at improving social functioning difficulties. Owing to the high risk of bias across interventions and lack of similar outcome measures, a meta-analysis was not conducted. Retention rates across studies were regarded as good, with moderate to high retention. Overall, the findings indicated that predominantly self-administered self-help interventions improved well-being in the areas targeted by the intervention and identified additional areas of well-being that were positively affected by interventions. Few interventions supported psychological well-being that was different from those used by young people with a clinical diagnosis of mental illness or young people from neurodiverse backgrounds.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings, along with the advantages of self-help interventions, highlight the need for upscaling self-help interventions to better support vulnerable populations of young people who experience poor psychological well-being.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42019129321; https://tinyurl.com/4fb2t4fz.

Predictors of adolescent engagement and outcomes - A cross-sectional study using the togetherall (formerly Big White Wall) digital mental health platform

BACKGROUND

Online mental health platforms can improve access to, and use of, mental health support for young people who may find it difficult to engage with face-to-face delivery.

OBJECTIVE

We modelled predictors of engagement and symptom change in adolescent users of the Togetherall (formerly "Big White Wall") anonymous digital mental health peer-support platform.

METHODS

We report a retrospective analysis of longitudinal user data from UK 16-18 year Togetherall users, referred from mental health services (N = 606). Baseline demographics were reported for participants who logged anxiety and depression measures. Number of log-ins, mean session duration, total usage time, number of guided support courses and self-help materials accessed were our usage metrics. Participant characteristics and symptoms were used to predict engagement. For n = 245 users with symptom measures at >1 timepoint we modelled the effect of predictors on symptom scores.

RESULTS

Mean logins was 5.11 and mean usage time was 64.22 mins. Participants with one log-in represented 33.5% of the sample. Total time accessing Togetherall predicated greater usage of self-help materials and courses. Females made greater use of materials and courses than males. In a subsample, higher baseline depression and anxiety, longer total usage time and mean session duration predicted final depression scores, whereas higher baseline depression and anxiety and greater accessed self-help materials predicted lower final anxiety scores.

LIMITATIONS

A naturalistic design was used and symptom modelling should be interpreted with caution.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest adolescents can engage with the Togetherall platform. Baseline symptoms and characteristics can inform user engagement with digital platforms.

How failure to falsify in high-volume science contributes to the replication crisis

The number of scientific papers published every year continues to increase, but scientific knowledge is not progressing at the same rate. Here we argue that a greater emphasis on falsification - the direct testing of strong hypotheses - would lead to faster progress by allowing well-specified hypotheses to be eliminated. We describe an example from neuroscience where there has been little work to directly test two prominent but incompatible hypotheses related to traumatic brain injury. Based on this example, we discuss how building strong hypotheses and then setting out to falsify them can bring greater precision to the clinical neurosciences, and argue that this approach could be beneficial to all areas of science.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Based Self-Help for Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for mental healthcare that can be delivered remotely and at scale to college students. This study evaluated the efficacy of online self-help for stress among students during the pandemic.

METHOD

College students with moderate or higher stress (N = 585) were recruited between November 2020 and February 2021, when COVID-19 had a major impact on colleges. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either online self-help using cognitive-behavioral therapy and positive psychology principles to support resilience and coping with pandemic-related stressors (n = 301) or referral to usual care (n = 284). Stress (primary outcome), depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes) were assessed at pretreatment, one-month post-treatment, and three-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Participants in the online self-help condition experienced significantly larger reductions in stress (d = -0.18, p = .035) and depression (d = -0.20, p = .018) from pretreatment to post-treatment than participants in the referral group. Reductions in stress from pretreatment to follow-up were also larger in the treatment versus referral group (d = -0.23, p = .005). Groups did not differ in change in anxiety. More time using the self-help program predicted greater improvement in depression at post-treatment (d = -0.41, p = .001) and follow-up (d = -0.32, p = .007), although usage was unrelated to change in stress or anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Online self-help targeting resilience and coping during the pandemic appears efficacious for long-term alleviation of stress and short-term alleviation of depression symptoms among the college students.

REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04762173).