PLUS (Personality and Living of University Students): A web-based intervention to reduce common mental health problems in university students

Web-based trait-focused prevention of common mental disorders in university students

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN14342225

Enrollment

1500

Registered

2013-05-15

Start date

2011-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depression, anxiety, substance use, eating disorders Mental and Behavioural Disorders Depressive episode, unspecified, Anxiety disorder, unspecified

Interventions

Students allocated to the intervention group were given access to 5 intervention modules on the PLUS website (Personality and Living of University Students). The modules are online self-help resources

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. University student (male or female) aged 18 or older 2. Currently enrolled in a UK Higher Education Institution

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Does not meet inclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Participant self-reported depression and anxiety assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (9 items) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (7 items). Questionnaires were administered at baseline, 6 weeks after randomisation and 12 weeks after randomisation.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Participant self-reported questionnaires assessing: 1.1. Self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, 10 items) 1.2. Perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, 36 items) 1.3. Personality (NEO-Five Factor inventory, 60 items) 1.4. Substance Use Risk Profile, 23 items) 1.5. Eating behaviour (Eating Disorder Diagnostics Scale, 22 items) 1.6. Drinking behaviour (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, 10 items) 1.7. Quality of life (WHO quality of life questionnaire, 26 items) 2. In addition, students could indicate how much they liked the website, how helpful they found the modules and the personalised feedback, how they found the design and usability of the website, as well as whether they had criticism or positive remarks. 3. Attrition and feasibility was assessed by electronically logging which modules students had started and completed.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Participant self-reported questionnaires assessing: 1.1. Self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, 10 items) 1.2. Perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, 36 items) 1.3. Personality (NEO-Five Factor inventory, 60 items) 1.4. Substance Use Risk Profile, 23 items) 1.5. Eating behaviour (Eating Disorder Diagnostics Scale, 22 items) 1.6. Drinking behaviour (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, 10 items) 1.7. Quality of life (WHO quality of life questionnaire, 26 items) 2. In addition, students could indicate how much they liked the website, how helpful they found the modules and the personalised feedback, how they found the design and usability of the website, as well as whether they had criticism or positive remarks. 3. Attrition and feasibility was assessed by electronically logging which modules students had started and completed.

—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 8, 2026