Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
McCashin, D., Coyle, D., O'Reilly, G.
Background: Compared to the evidence base for adult populations, less is known about the effectiveness of
technology-assisted CBT interventions for children aged 12 and under in real-world settings. Aim(s): This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness
of a technology-assisted CBT intervention called Pesky gNATs in primary care psychology services. Method(s): A 2 x 3 (group by time) waitlist
randomised controlled trial design was applied (n = 122), using the total internalising score from the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) as the
primary outcome measure; and a range of secondary outcomes. Participants were recruited from primary care services across Ireland and were assessed
at baseline (Time 1), post-intervention (Time 2), and a follow-up at 3 months (Time 3). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyse the data; in
addition to Cohen's d for effect sizes, and the reliable change index (RCI) for clinically meaningful change. Result(s): Overall, no significant
between-group differences were found on primary or secondary measures. Both intervention and waitlist control groups experienced significantly
positive change across all timepoints. However, participant retention rate at Time 2 was 66%; and fell to 44% at Time 3. Intervention group feedback
from children and parent at Time 2 indicated high levels of acceptability and satisfaction with Pesky gNATs. The RCI showed a statistically
significant result at Time 2: more participants from the intervention group (n = 9) moved from clinical to non-clinical levels on the primary outcome
than did waitlist control participants (n = 0); but no differences were found at Time 3. Conclusion(s): This RCT did not demonstrate that Pesky gNATs
is effective in providing clinically significant levels of change for low mood and anxiety. However, participant feedback showed high levels of
acceptability and positive experiences However, given the high attrition rate and implementation challenges, further research is required to
ascertain the effectiveness of technology-assisted CBT interventions such as Pesky gNATs. Copyright © 2021
Internet Interventions, 27 (no pagination) :
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Maybery, D., Reupert, A., Bartholomew, C., Cuff, R., Duncan, Z., McAuliffe, C., McLean, L., Pettenuzzo, L., Swing, A., Foster, K.
Aim: Young adults aged 18-25 whose parents have a mental illness or substance
use problem can be vulnerable to multiple difficulties in adulthood. There are, however, few available interventions designed for this group. This
study evaluated a 6 week online intervention (mi. spot; mental illness: supported, preventative, online, targeted) specifically designed for this
population. The intervention aims to improve mental health and wellbeing. Method(s): Forty-one young people, recruited from the community,
participated in a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial where participants were randomized to mi. spot (n = 22) or a wait list control group
(n = 19). They were assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at six weeks post intervention with measures covering depression, anxiety
and stress, wellbeing, coping, general self-efficacy, help seeking and social connectedness. Result(s): Intervention participants reported
significantly improved psychological wellbeing, coping, general self-efficacy, and a reduction in anxiety. Participants in the control group reported
significant improvements in emotional wellbeing and help seeking and a reduction in self-blame. Conclusion(s): This pilot controlled trial supported
previous findings and shows preliminary evidence that mi.spot is effective for young adults who grew up with parents who have a mental illness or
substance use problem. A large-scale, randomized controlled trial with a diverse group of young people is needed. Copyright © 2022 The Authors Early
Intervention in Psychiatry Published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 16(11) : 1249-1258
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Mallik, A., Russo, F. A.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Music and auditory beat stimulation (ABS) in the theta
frequency range (4-7 Hz) are sound-based anxiety treatments that have been independently investigated in prior studies. Here, the anxiety-reducing
potential of calm music combined with theta ABS was examined in a large sample of participants.\rMETHODS: An open-label randomized controlled trial
was conducted with participants taking anxiolytics (n = 163). Participants were randomly assigned using the Qualtrics randomizer algorithm, to a
single session of sound-based treatment in one of four parallel arms: combined (music & ABS; n = 39), music-alone (n = 36), ABS-alone (n = 41), or
pink noise (control; n = 47). Pre- and post-intervention somatic and cognitive state anxiety measures were collected along with trait anxiety,
personality measures and musical preferences. The study was completed online using a custom application.\rRESULTS: Based on trait anxiety scores
participants were separated into moderate and high trait anxiety sub-groups. Among participants with moderate trait anxiety, we observed reductions
in somatic anxiety that were greater in combined and music-alone conditions than in the pink noise condition; and reductions in cognitive state
anxiety that were greater in the combined condition than in the music-alone, ABS-alone, and pink noise conditions. While we also observed reductions
in somatic and cognitive state anxiety in participants with high trait anxiety, the conditions were not well differentiated.\rCONCLUSIONS: Sound-
based treatments are effective in reducing somatic and cognitive state anxiety. For participants with moderate trait anxiety, combined conditions
were most efficacious.
, 17(3) : e0259312
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art, Other complementary & alternative
interventions
Malinauskas, R., Malinauskiene, V.
(1) Background:
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of internet-based intervention programs for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among
university students during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a meta-analysis. (2) Methods: Searches were conducted in the following databases:
MEDLINE, EbscoHost Academic Search Ultimate, and PsycArticles, using a combination of \"Covid-19 AND 'Randomized Controlled Trial' AND students\",
as well as a combination of the following search terms: \"internet\", \"online\", \"treat_\", \"psycholog_\", \"intervention\", \"program_\",
\"stress_\", \"depress_\", \"anxiety\", \"university\", \"college\", \"freshm_\", \"sophomore_\", and \"undergraduat_\". The population,
intervention, control, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) framework was used (P (population): university students during the COVID-19 pandemic; I
(intervention): internet-based intervention programs for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression; C (control): no intervention, usual care, or on a
waiting list; O (outcomes): stress, anxiety, and depression indicators; S (study design): meta-analysis including only randomized controlled trials
(RCTs)). A meta-analysis was performed on the 10 retrieved studies published between 2021 and 2022. Only RCTs were analyzed. (3) Results: All 10
analyzed papers revealed a trend in the effectiveness of internet-based intervention for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in university
students during COVID-19. Significant effects from the included RCTs with interventions for reducing stress and depression were established. (4)
Conclusions: Psychological internet-based interventions may help to reduce depression and stress among university students; however, more research is
needed to determine their effectiveness in reducing anxiety.
International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health [Electronic
Resource], 19(15) : 27
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Ma, Li., Wang, Y., Pan, L., Cui, Z., Schluter, P. J.
This meta-analysis examines the effects of mindfulness-informed and
mindfulness-based interventions including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy (MBCT) on depressive and anxiety symptoms among college students. Three electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane
Central) were utilized and systematically searched. Effect estimates were reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and data were pooled using
random-effects models. Twenty-two comparisons derived from 19 studies (2716 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. For studies employing
passive control conditions (n = 17), post-intervention effect sizes were significant for depressive (0.47 [95% CI: 0. 32-0.63]) and anxiety symptoms
(0.58 [95% CI: 0.34-0.82]). Effect sizes were significant at post-intervention among MBCT (0.76 [95% CI: 0.48-1.03] for depressive symptoms and 1.37
[95% CI: 0.70-2.04] for anxiety symptoms) and MBSR (0.58 [95% CI: 0.31-0.86] for depressive symptoms and 0.49 [95% CI: 0.24-0.73] for anxiety
symptoms). The effect size of ACT for depressive symptoms at post-intervention was significant (0.28 [95% CI: 0.09-0.48]), but the post-intervention
effect size of ACT for anxiety symptoms was not significant (0.23 [95% CI: -0.01 -0.47]). Our analyses showed no superiority for ACT, MBSR, and MBCT
to active control conditions, either when they were combined or considered separately. This meta-analysis provides empirical evidence in support of
ACT, MBSR, and MBCT for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among college students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights
reserved)
Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 32(4) : 271-
289
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy, Acceptance & commitment therapy
(ACT), Other service delivery and improvement
interventions
Luo, Q., Zhang, P., Liu, Y., Ma, X., Jennings, G.
(1) Background: Although physical activity has been widely recognized as an effective way
to improve anxiety and depression, we lack a systematic summary of research on improving anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. The
study aims to systematically analyze how physical activity impacts on this situation in college students during COVID-19. (2) Methods: Both Chinese
and English databases (PubMed the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang) were
analyzed. All the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about physical activity intervention for this were included. We received eight eligible RCT
experiments before the retrieval time (4 October 2022) in the meta-analysis. (3) Results: Physical activity benefits for college students with
significant anxiety were (SMD = -0.50; 95% CI = -0.83 to -0.17; I2 = 84%; p < 0.001; Z = 2.98;) and depression (SMD = -0.62; 95% CI = -
0.99 to -0.25; I2 = 80.7%; p < 0.001; Z = 3.27). Subgroup analyses showed physical activity of different intensities significantly
impacted on improving college students' depression and anxiety, but physical activity of 6 < 9 Mets intensity had a greater effect on anxiety than
on depression. Interventions of eight weeks or less performed better than those of over eight weeks while interventions less than four times per week
had a significant effect on improving the situation. The overall effect of a single intervention of 30 min was more effective than one of over 60
min. (4) Conclusion: Physical activities can effectively improve the situation of anxiety and depression for college students during the COVID-19
pandemic. However, a higher quality RCT experiment is needed to prove it.
International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health
[Electronic Resource], 19(22) : 20
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Physical activity, exercise
Luo, J., Xia, M., Zhang, C.
There was currently no consensus on whether chewing gum should be widely instituted as a means to help reduce
anxiety and stress. Chewing gum was also not included in guidelines for alleviating anxiety and stress. The purpose of this study was of two aspects:
(1) to review the research progress of the relationship between gum chewing and anxiety and stress in recent years and (2) to make a meta-analysis of
the effects of mastication on anxiety and stress. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies extracted from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to
identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of chewing gum on anxiety, and stress was evaluated through screening,
inclusion, data extraction, and quality assessment. The meta-analysis we performed was using Review Manager 5.3 software. We included a total of 8
RCTs, involving more than 400 adults over 18 years old. Compared with no chewing gum, chewing gum resulted in anxiety (MD = -0.26, 95% CI (-0.48, -
0.04), p=0.02, I 2 = 11%), where the heterogeneity was low and statistically significant. While in stress (MD = -0.27, 95% CI (-0.79, -
0.25), p=0.31, I 2 = 48%), the heterogeneity was high, and there was of no statistical significance. Based on current evidence, chewing
gum is an inexpensive, well-tolerated, safe, and effective way to relieve anxiety and stress. To confirm the conclusion, we still need to conduct
more randomized trials.
Journal of Healthcare
Engineering, 2022 : 8606693
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Other complementary & alternative
interventions
Lorentzen, V., Fagermo, K., Handegard, B. H., Neumer, S. P., Skre, I.
BACKGROUND:
There is a need for long-term effectiveness trials of transdiagnostic treatments. This study investigates the effectiveness and diagnosis-specific
trajectories of change in adolescent patients attending SMART, a 6-week transdiagnostic CBT for anxiety and depression, with 6-month follow-up.
METHOD(S): A randomized controlled trial with waiting list control (WLC) was performed at three child and adolescent mental health outpatient
services (CAMHS) in Norway. Referred adolescents (N=163, age=15.72, 90.3% females) scoring 6 or more on the emotional disorders subscale of the
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were randomly assigned to treatment or to WLC. Long-term follow-up (N=83, baseline age=15.57, 94%
females) was performed 6 months after treatment completion (Mean=7.1 months, SD=2.5). Linear mixed model analysis was used to assess time by group
effects in patients with no diagnosis, probable anxiety, depressive disorder, and combined anxiety and depressive disorder. RESULT(S): Almost one
third (31%) obtained full recovery according to the inclusion criterium (SDQ emotional). There was highly significant change in all outcome
variables. Effect sizes (ES) were largest for general functioning, measured with CGAS (ES: d=2.19), and on emotional problems measured with SDQ (ES:
d=2.10), while CORE-17, BDI-II and CGAS all obtained ES's close to 1. There were no significant time by diagnostic group interactions for any
outcomes, indicating similar trajectories of change, regardless of diagnostic group. Waiting 6 weeks for treatment had no significant impact on
long-term treatment effects. LIMITATIONS: Possible regression to the mean. Attrition from baseline to follow-up. CONCLUSION(S): Six weeks of
transdiagnostic treatment for adolescents with emotional problems showed highly significant change in emotional symptoms and functioning at 6-month
follow-up. Patients with anxiety, depression, combined anxiety and depression, and emotional problems with no specific diagnoses, all had similar
trajectories of change. Hence this transdiagnostic SMART treatment can be recommended for adolescent patients with symptoms within the broad spectrum
of emotional problems. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02150265. First registered May 29, 2014. Copyright © 2022. The Author
(s).
BMC psychology, 10(1) : 167
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Liu, S., Hao, X., Liu, X., He, Y., Zhang, L., An, X., Song, X., Ming,
D.
Timely relief of anxiety in
healthy people is important, but there is little research on this topic at present. Neurofeedback training allows subjects to regulate their specific
brain activities autonomously and thus alter their corresponding cognitive functions. Inattention is a significant cognitive deficit in patients with
anxiety. Sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) was reported to be closely related to attention. In this study, trainability, frequency specificity, and brain-
behavior relationships were utilized to verify the validity of a relative SMR power protocol. An EEG neurofeedback training system was developed for
alleviating anxiety levels in healthy people. The EEG data were collected from 33 subjects during SMR up-training sessions. Subjects attended six
times neurofeedback training for about 2 weeks. The feedback value of the neurofeedback group was the relative SMR power at the feedback electrode
(electrode C3), while the feedback values for the control group were pseudorandom numbers. The trainability index revealed that the learning trend
showed an increase in SMR power activity at the C3 electrode, confirming effects across training. The frequency specificity index revealed only that
SMR band activity increased significantly in the neurofeedback group. The brain-behavior relationships index revealed that increased SMR activity
correlated negatively with the severity of anxiety. This study indicates that neurofeedback training using a relative SMR power protocol, based on
activity at the C3 electrode, could relieve anxiety levels for healthy people and increase the SMR power. Preliminary studies support the feasibility
and efficacy of the relative SMR power protocol for healthy people with anxiety. Copyright © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer
Nature B.V.
Cognitive
Neurodynamics, 16(3) : 531-544
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Biofeedback, neurofeedback, audio/video feedback
Lin, J., Gao, Y. F., Guo, Y., Li, M., Zhu, Y., You, R., Chen,
S., Wang, S.
BACKGROUND: Physical and mental health problems are becoming more serious among college students due to lifestyle changes
and increased academic stress. Qigong exercise has been regarded as a potentially effective intervention to improve the physical and mental health of
college students.\rMETHODS: Eleven databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials
(RCTs) were included. Physical and psychological conditions, including limb muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, vital
capacity, blood pressure and heart rate, as well as depression, anxiety and mood, were evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane
Collaboration tool.\rRESULTS: Sixteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory
endurance (MD = 3.83, 95% CI: 0.99 to 6.67, P = 0.008) and flexibility (MD = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.21 to 4.81, P = 0.001) were observed. We also observed
that Qigong exercise significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms (SMD=-0.89, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.61, P < 0.00001; SMD=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.31
to -0.25, P = 0.004). Nevertheless, no significant effects on muscle strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate or mood were found.
\rCONCLUSION: Qigong exercise was advantageous for college students in terms of improving flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance and alleviating
depression and anxiety to some extent. However, due to the limited number of eligible trials and the low methodological quality, more well-designed
RCTs are needed in the future.
BMC Complementary Medicine and
Therapies, 22(1) : 287
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Mind-body exercises (e.g. yoga, tai chi, qigong)
Lima, R. A., Barros, M. V. G., Bezerra, J., Santos, S.
J., Monducci, E., Rodriguez-Ayllon, M., Soares, F. C.
We investigated the effects of three different
interventions on depressive symptoms in adolescents. As a secondary aim, we explored the mediating role of social isolation, anxiety, sleep quality,
and cognitive function of the intervention effect on depressive symptoms. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial, in which schools were
randomly assigned to 1. Doubling physical education (PE) classes (3:20 h of PE/week); 2. Workshop with the PE teachers; 3. Workshop with the PE
teachers + Doubling PE classes; and 4. Control group (1:40 h of PE/week). In total, 1279 adolescents were included, 56.4% females. Doubling PE
classes and the workshop with the PE teachers + Doubling PE classes groups did not affect depressive symptoms (-0.947, 95% CI -3.176 to 1.281; and,
0.726, 95% CI -1.558 to 3.009, respectively). The workshop with the PE teachers decreased adolescents' depressive symptoms (-2.495, 95% CI -4.668 to
-0.323), social isolation (-4.759, 95% CI -9.025 to -0.493), and poor sleep quality (-0.560, 95% CI -1.108 to -0.012) compared with the control
group. Social isolation mediated 32% of the workshop effect on depressive symptoms. The workshop with the PE teachers and the workshop with the PE
teachers + Doubling PE classes groups lowered in 93% and in 54% the risk of the adolescents in developing high depressive symptomatology compared
with the control group, respectively. A workshop updating PE teachers on pedagogical and health-related topics decreased depressive symptoms in
adolescents. Moreover, improvements in the adolescents' social isolation mediated the effect of PE teachers' workshop intervention on the
depressive symptoms in adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(3) : 622-
631
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Psychological Interventions
(any), Psychoeducation, Dietary advice, dietary change, Other complementary & alternative
interventions
Li, X., Zheng, M., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Nie, L., Yuan, Y., Qian,
T., Ku, Y.
Objectives: In this preregistered
study, we investigated the beneficial effects of music-based casual video game training on the depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in a cohort of
young individuals with subthreshold depression and the underlying mechanisms. Method(s): The study included 56 young individuals (18-26 years of age)
with subthreshold or mild depression based on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores between 14 and 19. They were randomly assigned into
the experimental group (n = 28) or the control group (n = 28). The experimental group underwent music-based casual video game training for 4 weeks.
During the same time, the control group participants conducted daily life activities without any intervention. The study participants in the two
groups were analyzed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) during the baseline before the intervention, as well as DASS-21,
Positive and negative Affect Scale (PANAS), General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) twice a week during
the 4 weeks of intervention. Result(s): The depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were significantly reduced in the experimental group
participants after 4 weeks of music-based video game training compared with the control group. The DAS scores in the experimental group were
alleviated in the third and fourth weeks of training compared with the control group. Moreover, analysis using the general linear model demonstrated
that the number of training weeks and self-efficacy were associated with significant reduction in depression, anxiety and stress. Furthermore, our
results demonstrated that self-efficacy was correlated with positive emotion and emotional regulation. Conclusion(s): Our study showed that music-
based casual video game training significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and stress in the young individuals with subthreshold depression by
enhancing self-efficacy. Copyright © 2022 Li, Zheng, Zhang, Wang, Nie, Yuan, Qian and Ku.
Frontiers in Public
Health, 10 : 961425
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Service Delivery & Improvement, Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)