Adolescent - Emotional Problem, Anxiety, Anxiety and Fear
Conditions
Keywords
Digital Health, Digital interventions, Cognitive behavior therapy, adolescent, anxiety
Brief summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a new therapist-guided rule based intervention in Bergen Municipality, Child and Family help center. Do they have a decrease in anxiety symptoms following the intervention? Do they have an increase in functional level following the intervention? Researchers will compare the therapist-guided rule based intervention with treatment as usual for adolescents with mild to moderate anxiety. Participants will use the intervention, which is based on CBT, for 8 weeks.
Detailed description
Modi is a mobile application and consists of a training program for adolescents with anxiety problems. Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders. The anxiety symptoms usually have an age of onset in adolescence. For many, these anxiety symptoms persist into adulthood, and lead to reduced quality of life and functional impairment. The goal is to prevent anxiety disorders, comorbid disorders and loss of function as a result of the anxiety symptoms. This study wants to investigate the effectiveness of a digital intervention in a randomized controlled trial. The study will recruit N = 128 young people aged 13-16 who will be randomized to either a therapist-guided, rule-based chatbot intervention or treatment as usual in the Child and Family Help Center in Bergen Municipality. The study will examine the clinical effects of the new intervention compared to treatment as usual
Interventions
OTHERModi
The Modi course, an eight-week mobile application intervention for adolescents with anxiety symptoms, is based on cognitive therapy. Guided by a rule-based chatbot named Anna, users navigate through predefined options and responses, learning about anxiety and recording their challenges. The app includes animated videos, illustrations, and audio files to enhance engagement. Modi consists of six chapters, with a focus on psychoeducation, the cognitive triangle, and exposure exercises. Participants receive guidance from two Modi therapists who provide weekly support via messages and scheduled phone calls, ensuring personalized assistance and addressing any issues throughout the course.
OTHERTreatment as usual
Participants receive usual treatment at their local Child and Family Services. This treatment, known as Treatment as Usual (TAU), is not standardized but reflects the care they would receive in regular practice. It aligns with national clinical guidelines and includes individual therapy, parental counseling, and assessments. Typically, the treatment is provided by a therapist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or a psychologist
Sponsors
Bergen kommune
Haukeland University Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Masking description
A member of the research group will conduct the randomization
Intervention model description
One group receives the digittal health intervention and one group receives treatment as usual
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
13 Years to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Ages 13-16 * Resides in Bergen * Completed RCADS-25 * Reports yes to both questions: * Do you have anxiety symptoms? Do you often feel stressed, scared, worried, or feel it in your body (e.g., stomach pain, heart palpitations, breathing problems, sweating, dizziness)? * Do anxiety symptoms prevent you from doing things you want or need to do (e.g., meeting new people, giving presentations at school, going to sleepovers, going to the shopping center)? Or do you spend so much time worrying that it affects your daily life? Can read Norwegian
Exclusion criteria
* Currently receiving other psychological treatment * Immediate need for other psychological treatment, such as severe depression, suicide risk, OCD, psychosis/substance abuse issues, autism spectrum disorder * Anxiety is largely related to bullying * Extensive school absence of more than 50% in the last three months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - 25 - Self-report | assessing change from screening, pre, week 2, week 4, week 6, and immediately after the intervention, follow-up 1 month, and at follow-up 6 months] | anxiety and depressive symptoms, higher score indicates worse outcomes |
| Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - 25 - Parent-report | assessing change from screening, pre, week 2, week 4, week 6, and immediately after the intervention, follow-up 1 month, and at follow-up 6 months] | anxiety and depressive symptoms, higher score indicates worse outcomes |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - Youth version | assessing change from screening, pre, week 4, immediately after the intervention, follow-up 1 month, and at follow-up 6 months] | The scale measure adolescent's general mental health, with a higher score indicating worse symptoms. The study intends to use all three components of the measurement, including 1) the basis of SDQ, which includes 25 items on psychological attributes, 2) impact supplement, measuring functional level. The follow-up version also includes two additional follow-up questions |
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - Parent version | assessing change from screening, pre, week 4, immediately after the intervention, follow-up 1 month, and at follow-up 6 months] | The scale measure parent-reported adolescent's general mental health, with a higher score indicating worse symptoms. The study intends to use all three components of the measurement, including 1) the basis of SDQ, which includes 25 items on psychological attributes, 2) impact supplement, measuring functional level. The follow-up version also includes two additional follow-up questions |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Motivation Questionnaire | week 2 | assessments of their motivation to participate in the study and interventions, developed specifically for this study |
| Evaluation Questionnaire | immediately after the intervention | evaluation assessments of the Modi intervention, developed specifically for this study. |
| Qualitative interviews | immediately after the intervention | Interviews with 15 adolescents from the Modi-group about their experience using the intervention |
| demographics | pre-intervention | gender, age |
Countries
Norway
Contacts
Primary ContactSmiti Kahlon, PhD
Backup ContactTine Nordgreen, PhD
Outcome results
None listed