Internet Delivered Treatment for generalized Anxiety symptoms in students
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN16303842 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16303842 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 18/06/2013
- Registration date
- 16/07/2013
- Last edited
- 18/02/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The percentage of the world population affected with anxiety disorders is considered to be high, affecting about 14% of the population of Europe each year. High levels of anxiety disorders have been reported in third level students, affecting 25-30% of this population. In the adult student population in Ireland, 36% suffer from anxiety and 30% from stress. The transition and management of academic demands at third level places great pressures upon students. These together with external circumstances such as the increase in the student monetary contribution to third level places demands on students to do well. The absence of resources can often mean that many do not seek treatment, which can lead to failure and dropout that can negatively impact on their future performance and self-image. Other factors that delay access include, for instance, a lack of trained professionals, personal stigma and waiting lists. Anxiety disorders can be treated successfully, and brief forms of cognitive behaviour therapy have been recommended. One possibility is to deliver low-intensity interventions online. Internet use in Ireland is high and young adults are regular users. Therefore, the current study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of an online self-administered treatment for generalized anxiety, with support.
Who can participate?
Students at the University of Dublin, Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland) with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder can participate.
What does the study involve?
Students will be randomly allocated to one of the two groups:
1. Active treatment group: a computerized cognitive behavior program consisting of six sessions, with support.
2. Waiting list control group: the participants in this group will not receive any treatment for the duration of the intervention for the active treatment group. They will have to wait until the beginning of the second semester of the academic year (January) to receive the computerized cognitive behavior program.
All participants will receive the same treatment.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There may be improvements in anxiety and health status.
Where is the study run from?
We will aim to recruit a sample of 100 participants. All participants will be recruited from the student body at the University of Dublin, Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland).
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
We hope to begin recruitment in October 2013 and thereafter the trial will run until April 2014. The first 6 weeks will be with an active treatment group and a waiting list control. Thereafter waiting list control participants will begin treatment in the second semester of the academic year (January).
Who is funding the study?
SilverCloud Health Ltd and Trinity College Dublin student counselling service.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Derek Richards,
derek.richards@tcd.ie
Contact information
Scientific
University of Dublin
Trintiy College
Dublin
2
Ireland
| derek.richards@tcd.ie |
Study information
| Study design | Randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | GP practice |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Internet-Delivered Treatment for generalized Anxiety symptoms in routine care: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| Study acronym | IDTA |
| Study objectives | High levels of anxiety disorders have been reported in third level students, affecting 25-30% of this population. In Ireland clinical anxiety has been reported at 36% and clinical stress at 30% of the adult student population. Given the presence of elevated levels of psychopathology (anxiety, stress, depression) in the student population there is a need for interventions. Current psychological services are overstretched and many barriers, such as costs, and personal stigma, exist that prevent people seeking help when they need it. These together with external circumstances such as the reintroduction of college fees places great demands on students to do well. Brief psychological interventions, particularly Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), have demonstrated their efficacy and have the potential to significantly reduce the burden of anxiety disorders. One potential avenue for research and development is that of delivering low-intensity interventions online. Students are a computer literate group and high users of the internet and related tools. The bulk of the evidence-base for the efficacy and effectiveness of low-intensity internet-delivered treatments for anxiety has been established through research trials although some research from service-based settings exist. Based on the success that has been achieved with supported online treatments we hypothesize that participants in the trial will demonstrate significant decreases in anxiety symptoms post-intervention and a corresponding positive change in quality of life. The current study seeks to make a contribution to understanding the relevance of a low-intensity internet-delivered treatment for anxiety in a service-based naturalistic setting in Ireland. |
| Ethics approval(s) | School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin - Approval pending |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Generalized anxiety disorder |
| Intervention | Internet intervention for generalized anxiety symptoms in routine primary care. 1. An active treatment group: The active condition consists of 6 modules of internet-delivered CBT, over 6 weeks, with clinical support providing weekly feedback on progress and exercises. The intervention teaches the principles of CBT and also different cognitive and behavioral strategies that participants can learn to help manage their anxiety. The content includes cognitive restructuring, behavioral exposure, worry exposure (staying with feared outcomes), relaxation training, problem solving, among others. CBT for GAD has as its aim to help the user overcome emotional avoidance and learn that their anxiety is not debilitating, but can be managed and indeed recede over time. 2. A waiting list control. Participants in the waiting list control group will not receive any treatment for the duration of the intervention for the immediate treatment group (6 weeks). Post-treatment the waiting list participants will continue for 6 weeks after which point they will be given access to treatment under the same conditions as the immediate treatment group received. The rationale for waiting-list participants to have to wait 6 weeks post-treatment before beginning the intervention is that we are following the academic calendar. That means, that the first treatment group will be recruited for October and finish treatment at the beginning of December. At that point many students are sitting exams, also there is a large Christmas break where many students leave. Students at this time are therefore occupied with exams and then take a break, both of which would interrupt treatment or potentially interfere with the treatment offered. It seems reasonable therefore to begin the waiting-list in treatment at the beginning of the new semester (January). The study seeks to observe and evaluate the effect of the treatment on changes in anxiety symptoms in participants. Data will be collected at baseline and at the end of treatment, week 6 and at follow-up, week 12 (3-months) and week 24 (6-months). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Anxiety symptoms: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Items (GAD-7) measured at baseline and at the end of treatment, week 6 and at follow-up, week 12 (3-months) and week 24 (6-months). |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Sociodemographic and History questionnaire 2. Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) 3. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) 4. Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) 5. Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ) 6. Helpful Aspects of Therapy Form (HAT) 7. Satisfaction with Treatment (SAT) 8. Reasons for dropout All above outcomes measured at baseline and at the end of treatment, week 6 and at follow-up, week 12 (3-months) and week 24 (6-months). |
| Overall study start date | 01/10/2013 |
| Completion date | 01/04/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 100 |
| Total final enrolment | 137 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. At least 18 years of age, either sex 2. Significant DSM-IV congurent generalized anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥10) |
| Key exclusion criteria | Currently in face-to-face counselling for anxiety |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/10/2013 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/04/2014 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Ireland
Study participating centre
2
Ireland
Sponsor information
University/education
c/o Ladislav Timulak
School of Psychology
Trintiy College
Dublin
2
Ireland
| Phone | +353 1 896 2431 |
|---|---|
| TimulakL@tcd.ie | |
| Website | http://www.tcd.ie/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/05m7pjf47 |
Funders
Funder type
Industry
No information available
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 27/04/2014 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | results | 29/10/2016 | 18/02/2021 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
18/02/2021: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
