ANXIETY DISORDERS (or Anxiety and Phobic Neuroses), Major Depression Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Transdiagnostic interventions
Brief summary
Some adolescents experience periods of anxiety and/or depression, and some find that these periods return over time. The purpose of this study is to examine whether digital interventions-where individuals work systematically with their own thoughts and feelings during periods when they feel well-can help them maintain well-being for longer. The study includes adolescents aged 16-19 who have previously experienced episodes of depression and/or anxiety to a degree that led them to seek help (e.g., from a school nurse, general practitioner, health clinic, or child and adolescent mental health service). Through a research app on their smartphones, participants complete tasks and answer questionnaires. The study is fully digital. Some participants meet with a therapist in digital group sessions, while others work independently with the digital content. We will also examine the cost-benefit aspects of offering such interventions. If the study achieves its goals, digital interventions may eventually become a service offered to adolescents recovering from depression and anxiety.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTransdiagnostic app intervention
A transdiagnostic, self-guided CBT app, called TankeVirus (literally translated Thought Viruses), consisting of three components: 1. Standardized self-assessment for mental health: 'Test your psychological immune system'. 2. Educational mini-series: A 30-minute, entertaining video series that teaches users to build resilience by addressing essential needs like sleep (psychological immune system), recognizing negative thought patterns (thought viruses), and developing healthier coping mechanisms (psychological vitamins). 3. Daily practice: Over 20 days, users receive a short, 1-2-minute video each morning. These videos provide practical tips, small experiments, or simple tasks designed to help users integrate healthier coping strategies into their daily lives.
BEHAVIORALTransdiagnostic mastery course
Group-based webinar offering psychoeducation based on principles of CBT.
Sponsors
University of Oslo
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Currently in full or partial remission for a minimum of 2 months from a depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder as defined by self-reported scores on RCADS-47: previous episode(s) of t-score \> 65 and current t-score =\<65. * Native or fluent Scandinavian language skills. * Willingness to take part even when allocated to the non-preferred arm of the trial.
Exclusion criteria
* Ongoing depressive disorder, ongoing anxiety disorder as defined by current t-score =\<65 on RCADS-47. * Recent completion of one of the interventions in the two interventional arms. * no available smartphone.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Relapse: Number of participants scoring above the diagnostic cut-off on the PHQ-9 modified for teens during the 12-month follow-up. | From enrollment to the end of follow-up at 12-months. | To use the PHQ-9 as a diagnostic aid for Major Depressive Disorder: * Questions 1 and/or 2 need to be endorsed as a "2" or "3" * Need five or more positive symptoms (positive is defined by a "2" or "3" in questions 1-8 and "1", "2", or "3" in question 9). * The functional impairment question (How difficult….) needs to be rated at least as "somewhat difficult." |
| Time until relapse; reaching the diagnostic criteria of MDD according to PHQ-9 modified for teens | From enrollment to 12-months follow-up | Number of days until the diagnostic criteria of MDD as assessed PHQ-9 modified for teens has been reached. \- Questions 1 and/or 2 need to be endorsed as a "2" or "3" * Need five or more positive symptoms (positive is defined by a "2" or "3" in questions 1-8 and by a "1", "2", or "3" in question 9). * The functional impairment question (How difficult….) needs to be rated at least as "somewhat difficult." |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Repetitive negative thinking (RNT-10) | At enrollment, and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up | Assess transdiagnostic repetitive negative thinking |
| Somatic complaints (SSS8) | At enrollment, and at 3, 6, and 12-months follow-up. | Somatic complaints based on sum score of all items |
| EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-Being | At baseline, 3, 6 and 12-months follow-up. | A 20-item validated questionnaire (4 items per domain; Engagement, Perseverance, Optimism, Connectedness, Happiness) on a 1-5 Likert scale (1=Almost Never, 5=Almost Always) resulting in domain scores, reflecting strengths in these positive psychological areas crucial for youth well-being. |
| Health related quality of life | At baseline, 3, 6 and 12-months follow-up. | EQ-5D-5L will be used to assess five domains of patient reported outcomes and for economic evaluation of the interventions. |
| Health related quality of life - Visual Analog Scale | At baseline, 3, 6 and 12-months follow-up. | EQ VAS will be used to assess patient reported outcomes for self-rated health and for economic evaluation of the interventions. |
Countries
Norway
Contacts
CONTACTRagnhild Bø, Ph.D.
Outcome results
None listed