Anxiety, Death Anxiety, Depression
Conditions
Keywords
death anxiety, depression, anxiety, transdiagnostic, indirect intervention, rct
Brief summary
The main purpose of this placebo controlled trial is to test the efficacy of a one-session From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention in reducing self-reported death anxiety levels. Another objective of this study is to investigate whether reductions in death anxiety levels are associated with reductions in depression and anxiety levels, thus testing if death anxiety is a transdiagnostic factor involved in psychopathology.
Detailed description
This is a placebo controlled trial where the main objective is to test if the one-session From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention is effective in reducing self-reported death anxiety levels. A secondary objective is to investigate whether reductions in death anxiety levels are associated with reductions in depression and anxiety levels, thus testing if death anxiety is a transdiagnostic factor involved in psychopathology. Participants will be selected based on death anxiety levels (moderate-high scores) and depression and anxiety symptoms (subclinical levels). Minors, people with suicidal ideation, people with current psychological/psychiatric diagnosis (excepting depression or anxiety diagnosis), people in active psychological/psychiatric treatment will be excluded. Recruited participants will be randomized into two groups: the experimental group (will receive the From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention) and the placebo group. The placebo condition will be undergoing a group-based attentional control activity. Participants will be blinded to the study condition. The From Fear to Purpose intervention protocol is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, build around identifying and committing to personal values. The intervention will be group-based (90 minutes session). The intervention will be administered by experienced psychotherapists. The primary outcome is death anxiety, while secondary outcomes are depression and anxiety symptoms, well-being, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance and valued living.
Interventions
OTHERFrom Fear to Purpose (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
The From Fear to Purpose ACT Protocol is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, build around identifying and committing to personal values. The intervention will be group-based (90 minutes session).
OTHERPlacebo
The placebo condition consists of a group-based attentional control intervention.
Sponsors
Babes-Bolyai University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Moderate-high levels of death anxiety (score \> or = 55) AND * Subclinical levels of depression (score \> or = 9) AND/OR * Subclinical levels of anxiety (score \> or = 9)
Exclusion criteria
* Minors * Suicidal ideation * Current psychological/psychiatric diagnosis (except depression or anxiety diagnosis) * Active psychological/psychiatric treatment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline Death Anxiety score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration) | From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame) | Death anxiety measured with Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviours Scale (Menzies, Sharpe, Dar-Nimrod, 2022). Scores range from 18 to 90, with higher scores indicating higher death anxiety levels. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline Depression score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration) | From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame) | Depression measured with Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (Kroenke, 1999). Scores range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating more severe depression symptoms. |
| Change from baseline Anxiety score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration | From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame) | Anxiety measured with Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (Spitzer, 2006). Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms. |
| Change from baseline Well-being score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration) | From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame) | Distress measured with The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5; WHO, 2024). Scores range from 0 to 25 with higher scores indicating better well-being. |
| Change from baseline Experiential Avoidance score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration | From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame) | Experiential Avoidance measured with Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnare (Gamez, 2011). Scores range from 15 to 90 with higher scores indicating higher experiential avoidance. |
| Change from baseline Valued Living score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration | From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame) | Valued Living measured with Valuing Questionnare (Smout, 2014). The measure has two subscales: 1. Progress, where scores range from 0 to 30, higher scores indicating a closer alignment between one's internal values and one's actions. 2. Obstruction, where scores range from 0 to 30, higher scores indicating more interference with living consistently with one's values. |
| Change from baseline Psychological Flexibility to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration) | From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame) | Psychological Flexibility measured with Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy processes (CompACT) (Francis, 2016). Scores range from 0 to 138 with higher scores indicating better psychological flexibility. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfaction with the intervention protocol | One month | Satisfaction with the intervention protocol measured with Client Satisfaction Questionnaire - 8 (Attkisson, 1982). Measured post intervention and at follow-up for the experimental group. Scores range from 8 to 32, higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with the intervention. |
Contacts
Primary ContactRoxana Cardoș, PhD
Outcome results
None listed