Work

Internet-based UP-A intervention on treatment of stress, anxiety, depression, and psychological flexibility among adolescents with sub-clinical diagnosis of emotional disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a clinical trial

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A) has been shown to be effective for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescents with emotional disorders. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of internet-based UP-A in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and psychological flexibility of adolescents with subclinical features of emotional disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a longitudinal randomized clinical trial conducted on 40 adolescents aged 12-17 years with subclinical features of emotional disorder. They were assigned randomly into two groups of intervention (n=20) and control (n=20). They first completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale- 21 item (DASS-21) and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-2) online. Then, the intervention group received 12 sessions of UP-A through video call on WhatsApp, two days per week each for 45 minutes. The control group received no treatment. Immediately and 3 months after the intervention, the questionnaires were completed again. Collected data were analyzed using longitudinal marginal modeling. Results: The stress, anxiety, and depression levels of adolescents decreased and their psychological flexibility increased immediately and 3 months after the intervention. The marginal modeling showed the interaction effect of time and group (p<0.05), indicating that the difference between groups was significant at all three time points. Conclusion: Online transdiagnostic therapy based on the UP-A is effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and improving psychological flexibility of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: BMC Psychology

DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01735-4

Authors: Vahideh Javadi, Farzaneh Ahmadi, Leila Salek Ebrahimi, Mohsen Dadashi, Seyedeh Elnaz Mousavi

Institutions: Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, University of Zanjan, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Digital Mental Health Interventions

Subfield: Applied Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,790