Work

Co-designed unguided internet cognitive behaviour therapy for grief in adolescence: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Grief is a common experience in adolescence. This pilot randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of unguided internet CBT for grief. Efficacy was assessed for anxiety (primary outcome), well-being, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and prolonged grief (secondary outcomes), relative to a four-week wait-list control. There were 88 participants (M = 16.95 years, SD = 1.45; age range 13-18 years; 66% female, 30% male, 4% non-binary/gender diverse/prefer not to say), with bereavement (80%) or other loss (20%; e.g., parent divorce) randomised to intervention or control. Intervention participants received eight modules delivered over four-weeks. Participants completed a post-intervention assessment, with intervention participants completing a second assessment four weeks later. Findings suggest good feasibility, with adequate recruitment and 18% attrition. While no differences in symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, or prolonged grief were observed between intervention and control post-intervention, there was a significant small effect on well-being in favour of the intervention. For intervention participants, there was a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD at follow-up, and moved from a clinical to non-clinical range of PTSD symptoms. Acceptability was high, 97% of intervention participants liked the program. The intervention should be further examined.

Source: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2025.2603521