Abstract
Background: There has been growing interest in the potential of emerging internet-delivered psychological treatments for supporting the mental health needs of university students. However, no large-scale prospective effectiveness trials examining their real-world potential have been reported. Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief, 5-week, internet-delivered and therapist-guided intervention for anxiety and depression, when delivered as part of routine care by a university counselling service. Design: A large, prospective, single-group Phase-IV clinical trial. Students (n = 1326) engaging with the university counselling service were provided the opportunity to receive the intervention based on their preferences and identified needs. Students completed standardised measures of anxiety and depression at pre-treatment, each week of the intervention, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Results: Over a 4 year period, 1081 students (10% of those presenting to the counselling service) participated in the intervention. Large clinical reductions in symptoms of both anxiety (% reduction = 41%; Cohen's d = 0.94) and depression (% reduction = 36%; Cohen's d = 0.81) were observed alongside high levels of acceptability. The intervention required relatively little counsellor time (M = 36.28 mins; SD = 20.56) per student, and symptom deterioration was observed in less than 5% of students. Conclusion: The findings of the current study are supportive of internet-delivered interventions provided as routine care to university students. Further research is needed to carefully explore whether these interventions could be used with a larger proportion of students presenting to counselling services, paying close attention to acceptability, engagement and clinical outcomes.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 567-577 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 256 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2019 |
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Bibliographical note
Copyright the Author(s) 2019. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Keywords
- depression
- anxiety
- young adults
- university students
- clinical trial
- internet
- online
- psychological treatment
- routine care
- implementation
Cite this
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Examining an internet-delivered intervention for anxiety and depression when delivered as a part of routine care for university students : a phase IV trial. / Dear, Blake F.; Johnson, Bareena; Singh, Ashwin; Wilkes, Benjamin; Brkic, Tamara; Gupta, Richa; Jones, Michael P.; Bailey, Steve; Dudeney, Joanne; Gandy, Milena; Fogliati, Rhiannon; Titov, Nickolai.
In: Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 256, 01.09.2019, p. 567-577.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining an internet-delivered intervention for anxiety and depression when delivered as a part of routine care for university students
T2 - Journal of Affective Disorders
AU - Dear, Blake F.
AU - Johnson, Bareena
AU - Singh, Ashwin
AU - Wilkes, Benjamin
AU - Brkic, Tamara
AU - Gupta, Richa
AU - Jones, Michael P.
AU - Bailey, Steve
AU - Dudeney, Joanne
AU - Gandy, Milena
AU - Fogliati, Rhiannon
AU - Titov, Nickolai
N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2019. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.
PY - 2019/9/1
Y1 - 2019/9/1
N2 - Background: There has been growing interest in the potential of emerging internet-delivered psychological treatments for supporting the mental health needs of university students. However, no large-scale prospective effectiveness trials examining their real-world potential have been reported. Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief, 5-week, internet-delivered and therapist-guided intervention for anxiety and depression, when delivered as part of routine care by a university counselling service. Design: A large, prospective, single-group Phase-IV clinical trial. Students (n = 1326) engaging with the university counselling service were provided the opportunity to receive the intervention based on their preferences and identified needs. Students completed standardised measures of anxiety and depression at pre-treatment, each week of the intervention, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Results: Over a 4 year period, 1081 students (10% of those presenting to the counselling service) participated in the intervention. Large clinical reductions in symptoms of both anxiety (% reduction = 41%; Cohen's d = 0.94) and depression (% reduction = 36%; Cohen's d = 0.81) were observed alongside high levels of acceptability. The intervention required relatively little counsellor time (M = 36.28 mins; SD = 20.56) per student, and symptom deterioration was observed in less than 5% of students. Conclusion: The findings of the current study are supportive of internet-delivered interventions provided as routine care to university students. Further research is needed to carefully explore whether these interventions could be used with a larger proportion of students presenting to counselling services, paying close attention to acceptability, engagement and clinical outcomes.
AB - Background: There has been growing interest in the potential of emerging internet-delivered psychological treatments for supporting the mental health needs of university students. However, no large-scale prospective effectiveness trials examining their real-world potential have been reported. Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief, 5-week, internet-delivered and therapist-guided intervention for anxiety and depression, when delivered as part of routine care by a university counselling service. Design: A large, prospective, single-group Phase-IV clinical trial. Students (n = 1326) engaging with the university counselling service were provided the opportunity to receive the intervention based on their preferences and identified needs. Students completed standardised measures of anxiety and depression at pre-treatment, each week of the intervention, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Results: Over a 4 year period, 1081 students (10% of those presenting to the counselling service) participated in the intervention. Large clinical reductions in symptoms of both anxiety (% reduction = 41%; Cohen's d = 0.94) and depression (% reduction = 36%; Cohen's d = 0.81) were observed alongside high levels of acceptability. The intervention required relatively little counsellor time (M = 36.28 mins; SD = 20.56) per student, and symptom deterioration was observed in less than 5% of students. Conclusion: The findings of the current study are supportive of internet-delivered interventions provided as routine care to university students. Further research is needed to carefully explore whether these interventions could be used with a larger proportion of students presenting to counselling services, paying close attention to acceptability, engagement and clinical outcomes.
KW - depression
KW - anxiety
KW - young adults
KW - university students
KW - clinical trial
KW - internet
KW - online
KW - psychological treatment
KW - routine care
KW - implementation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068263709&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.044
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.044
M3 - Article
VL - 256
SP - 567
EP - 577
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
ER -