Disorders - Anxiety Disorders
Shapiro, M. O., Allan, N. P., Raines, A. M., Schmidt, N. B.
Background and Objectives: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is an
important transdiagnostic risk factor for the development and maintenance of anxiety- and depression-related disorders. Although traditionally
targeted within the context of cognitive behavioral treatments, no studies to date have examined the efficacy of IU specific interventions. To this
end, the current study aimed to develop and test the initial efficacy of a brief, one-session computerized IU-focused psychoeducation intervention.
Method(s): Student participants (N = 84) were randomly assigned to an active (IU-focused Psychoeducation) or control (Health-focused Psychoeducation)
condition and assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, week 1, and week 4. Result(s): Path analytic modeling found the active condition
(compared to the control) led to significant reductions in IU at week 4 follow-up. Mediation analyses revealed a statistically significant indirect
effect of condition on change in anxiety and depression symptoms at week 4 via changes in IU. Limitation(s): Limitations include the use of self-
report measures to assess all constructs of interest and a predominantly female sample, possibly limiting generalizability. Conclusion(s): The
current study was the first to provide preliminary evidence that a brief, computerized IU treatment may be effective in reducing fears of
uncertainty. This is important given the brevity of our intervention and the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Copyright © 2022, This is a U.S.
Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral
Assessment, 45(2) : 379-390
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Psychoeducation
Savell, S.
M., Lee, J., Stern, J. A., Wilson, M. N.
OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effects of a
scalable psychoeducation intervention to improve students' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.\rPARTICIPANTS: In a sample of racially
diverse undergraduates from a highly selective university (N = 66), students in the control group (mostly women) participated in courses as usual and
students in the intervention group (only women) participated in a psychoeducation course on evidence-based strategies for coping, designed for
college students living through the pandemic.\rMETHODS: Rates of psychological distress were measured through online surveys at baseline and follow-
up assessments.\rRESULTS: Students in both the intervention and control groups had clinically elevated depressive symptoms. Consistent with
hypotheses, students in the intervention group had lower levels of academic distress and more positive perceptions regarding mental healthcare at the
follow-up assessment than students in the control group. Contrary to hypotheses, students in both groups had similar levels of depressive symptoms,
feelings of being overwhelmed, and coping. Preliminary findings suggest that the intervention primarily improved help-seeking and may have reduced
stigma.\rCONCLUSIONS: Psychoeducation in an academic setting may be one means by which to decrease academic distress and reduce mental health stigma
at highly selective institutions.
, : 1-10
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Psychoeducation
Sarman, A., Gunay, U.
This research was
conducted to determine the effect of calligraphy on the anxiety and depression levels of adolescent psychiatric patients. It was conducted with
adolescent psychiatric patients ages 14-17 in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region. They were allocated a calligraphy (n=40) or a wait-list (n=39)
group. Those in the calligraphy group participated in 60-min calligraphy sessions for three weeks. The state anxiety levels of adolescents who
applied calligraphy decreased gradually when compared with adolescents in the control group. The difference between the third-week mean post-test
state anxiety scores of the adolescents in the calligraphy and control groups was significant (t=2.34, p=.02). The trait anxiety scale and depression
scale mean post-test scores of the adolescents in the calligraphy group were lower than in the control group. The difference between two groups was
significant. Calligraphy can be potentially used as a beneficial method for reducing anxiety and depression. Copyright © 2021. The Author(s), under
exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Journal of religion and health, 62(2) : 1269-
1285
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art
Rojas, B., Catalan, E., Diez, G., Roca, P.
OBJECTIVES: Physicians and
medical students are subject to higher levels of psychological distress than the general population. These challenges have a negative impact in
medical practice, leading to uncompassionate care. This pilot study aims to examine the feasibility of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) to
reduce psychological distress and improve the well-being of medical students. We hypothesize that the CCT program, as compared to a waitlist control
group, will reduce psychological distress (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression) and burnout symptoms, while improving compassion, empathy,
mindfulness, resilience, psychological well-being, and emotion-regulation strategies after the intervention. Furthermore, we hypothesize that these
improvements will be maintained at a two-month follow-up.\rMETHODS: Medical students were randomly assigned to an 8-week CCT or a Waitlist control
group (WL). They completed self-report assessments at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a 2-month follow-up. The outcomes measured were
compassion, empathy, mindfulness, well-being, resilience, emotional regulation, psychological distress, burnout, and COVID-19 concern. Mixed-effects
models and Reliable Change Index were computed.\rRESULTS: Compared with WL, CCT showed significant improvements in self-compassion, mindfulness, and
emotion regulation, as well as a significant decrease in stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion component of burnout. Furthermore, some of these
effects persisted at follow-up. No adverse effects of meditation practices were found.\rCONCLUSIONS: CCT enhanced compassion skills while reducing
psychological distress in medical students, this being critical to preserving the mental health of physicians while promoting compassionate care for
patients. The need for institutions to include this type of training is also discussed.
, 18(6) : e0287388
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Meditation
Robberegt, S. J., Brouwer, M. E., Kooiman, B.
E. A. M., Stikkelbroek, Y. A. J., Nauta, M. H., Bockting, C. L. H.
Objective: Depression and anxiety cause a
high burden of disease and have high relapse rates (39%-72%). This meta-analysis systematically examined effectiveness of relapse prevention
strategies on risk of and time to relapse in youth who remitted. Method(s): PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, Cochrane, and ERIC databases were searched up
to June 15, 2021. Eligible studies compared relapse prevention strategies to control conditions among youth (mean age 13-25 years) who were
previously depressed or anxious or with >=30% improvement in symptoms. Two reviewers independently assessed titles, abstracts, and full texts;
extracted study data; and assessed risk of bias and overall strength of evidence. Random-effects models were used to pool results, and mixed-effects
models were used for subgroup analyses. Main outcome was relapse rate at last follow-up (PROSPERO ID: CRD42020149326). Result(s): Of 10 randomized
controlled trials (RCTs) that examined depression, 9 were eligible for analysis: 4 included psychological interventions (n = 370), 3 included
antidepressants (n = 80), and 2 included combinations (n = 132). No RCTs for anxiety were identified. Over 6 to 75 months, relapse was half as likely
following psychological treatment compared with care as usual conditions (k = 6; odds ratio 0.56, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.00). Sensitivity analyses
including only studies with >=50 participants (k = 3), showed similar results. Over 6 to 12 months, relapse was less likely in youth receiving
antidepressants compared with youth receiving pill placebo (k = 3; OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.82). Quality of studies was suboptimal. Conclusion(s):
Relapse prevention strategies for youth depression reduce risk of relapse, although adequately powered, high-quality RCTs are needed. This finding,
together with the lack of RCTs on anxiety, underscores the need to examine relapse prevention in youth facing these common mental health conditions.
Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Journal
of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 62(3) : 306-317
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Relapse prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions
(any), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Antidepressants
(any), Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Reily, N. M., Tang,
S., Negrone, A., Gan, D. Z. Q., Sheanoda, V., Christensen, H.
INTRODUCTION: Omega-3 supplements may be efficacious in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults, particularly as an
adjunct to antidepressant medication. However, research in young people is limited. Thus, this scoping review aimed to summarise existing evidence on
the efficacy of omega-3 supplementation in treating depression and anxiety symptoms in young people aged 14-24. A secondary aim was to determine
whether grey literature intended for the general public accurately reflects the evidence.\rMETHOD: Four databases (Cochrane CENTRAL, EmBASE,
PsycINFO, PubMed) were searched from inception to 4th August 2021. Eligible peer-reviewed studies were empirical studies which examined the efficacy
of omega-3 supplements in preventing/treating anxiety and/or depression symptoms in young people aged 14-24. Risk of bias was assessed for randomised
studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Selected grey literature databases were also searched, with eligible sources assessed for quality. A
stakeholder group including young people with lived experience of anxiety/depression, parents/carers and mental health professionals informed the
research questions and data interpretation. Findings were summarised using narrative synthesis.\rRESULTS: 17 empirical studies (N = 1240
participants) meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Studies varied in treatment and participant characteristics. In general, the data did not
support the view that omega-3 supplements were efficacious in improving symptoms of anxiety or depression in young people aged 14-24. In contrast,
most grey literature sources recommended the use of omega-3 supplements in young people.\rDISCUSSION: Evidence for efficacy of omega-3
supplementation in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people was inconclusive. More research is needed to identify potential
mechanisms and moderators of the effect of omega-3 supplements on depression and anxiety symptoms in young people.
, 18(4) : e0284057
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Fish oil (Omega-3 fatty acids), Omega 3 fatty
acids (e.g. fish oil, flax oil)
Reangsing, C., Moonpanane, K., Pitchalard, K., Kodyee, S., Seethikaew,
N., Oerther, S.
OBJECTIVE:
We synthesized the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on psychological outcomes in college and university students during the COVID-19
pandemic.\rMETHOD: Ten electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2021. We reviewed studies with college and university students
receiving MBIs with psychological outcomes. We only reviewed studies written in English. A random-effects model was used to compute the effect size.
\rRESULTS: Overall, MBIs showed a significantly moderate improvement in anxiety (g = 0.612, 95% CI: 0.288-0.936, I2 = 77%); depression (g
= 0.372, 95% CI: 0.032-0.713, I2 = 72%); and mindfulness (g = 0.392, 95% CI:0.102-0.695, I2 = 64%) compared with control
groups, while these interventions had a small effect in reducing stress, but not a significant one (g = 0.295, 95% CI: -0.088 to 0.676, I2
= 77%) compared with control groups.\rCONCLUSION: MBIs significantly improved psychological outcomes among college and university students during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians and health providers should consider using MBIs as alternative complementary treatment for improving and preventing
anxiety and depression in college and university students during COVID-19.\rCLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of MBIs for college and university students
is an effective method to decrease anxiety, depressive symptoms, and increase mindfulness. MBIs would become a very useful means of alternative
complementary treatment in mental health and clinical psychiatry.
Journal of clinical psychology, 79(9) : 2023-2039
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy
Prior, K., Salemink, E., Piggott, M., Teachman, B., Manning, V., Newton, N., Teesson, M., Baillie, A., Wiers, R., Stapinski, L.
Introduction: Up to 60% of
young people who receive treatment for alcohol use relapse to heavy drinking, particularly those who drink to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Cognitive
Bias Modification (CBM) interventions are effective adjunct treatments for anxiety and alcohol use disorders individually. However, it is unknown
whether these programs are efficacious amongst people with co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use problems, and whether they can prevent progression
into chronic, life-long disorders amongst younger comorbid samples. This presentation will outline the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary
efficacy of 'Re-Train Your Brain'; an internet-delivered CBM program for young adults with comorbid anxiety and alcohol use problems. Method(s):
Australian youth aged 18-30 (n = 100) with anxiety and hazardous alcohol use were randomized to receive the 10-session Re- Train Your Brain
intervention plus treatment as usual (TAU) over 5 weeks or TAU only. Feasibility and acceptability (e.g., system usability, client satisfaction) were
assessed at 6-weeks post-baseline, and anxiety, alcohol use, anxiety interpretation biases, and alcohol approach biases were assessed at baseline, 6
-weeks and 3-months post-baseline. Result(s): The study was deemed feasible and acceptable, with high levels of adherence (81% completed at least one
training session, with an average of M = 5.5 sessions completed), system usability (M = 84.0) and client satisfaction (M = 24.8). Re-Train Your Brain
plus TAU was associated with significantly greater reductions in interpretation biases and alcohol cravings at 6-weeks relative to TAU only. 3-month
efficacy analyses are currently underway. Conclusion(s): This world-first early intervention carries enormous potential to improve outcomes in a
complex group that respond poorly to standard treatments.
Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 17(Supplement
1) : 19
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Alcohol
Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Attention/cognitive bias
modification, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Prior, K., Newton, N., Teesson, M., Kelly, E., Deady, M., Baillie, A., Wiers,
R., Teachman, B.
Aims: Anxiety
and alcohol use disorders are two common and debilitating conditions amongst young people which often co-occur. If left untreated, they can fuel each
other in a self-perpetuating cycle, leading to more severe symptoms and greater impairment. Developmentally targeted early interventions such as
'Inroads' and 'Re-Train Your Brain' are urgently needed to prevent the escalation of symptoms into chronic, entrenched disorders. Method(s):
INROADS: Australian youth aged 17-24 (n = 123) experiencing anxiety symptoms and hazardous alcohol use were randomized to Inroads or a control
psychoeducation condition. The Inroads intervention comprised 5 online CBT modules plus weekly therapist support via email or phone. Assessments of
anxiety and alcohol use occurred at baseline, and 2 and 6 months after baseline. RE-TRAIN YOUR BRAIN: Australian youth aged 18-30 (n = 100) with
social anxiety and hazardous alcohol use were randomized to receive the 10-session online Re-Train Your Brain cognitive bias modification
intervention plus treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU only. Assessments of anxiety and alcohol use occurred at baseline, and 6 weeks and 3 months post-
baseline. Result(s): INROADS: The Inroads program reduced anxiety and positive alcohol expectancies relative to control. Alcohol consumption and
harms reduced in both conditions; however, benefits were greater and sustained at 6 months for participants in Inroads. RE-TRAIN YOUR BRAIN: pending.
Conclusion(s): By offering early interventions developed in consultation with young people, in a format that young people are receptive to, these
programs have the potential to reduce the risk of ongoing impairment associated with anxiety and alcohol use problems.
Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 17(Supplement 1) : 165-
166
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Alcohol
Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Attention/cognitive bias
modification, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Pineros-Leano, M., Parchment, T. M., Calvo, R.
Background: The Latinx population is the largest and fastest-growing
segment of the U.S. While the vast majority\rof Latinx children are US-born, over half are growing up in a family where they live with at least one
foreign-born\rparent. Despite research showing that Latinx immigrants are less likely to experience mental, emotional, and\rbehavioral (MEB) health
issues (e.g., depression, conduct disorder, substance misuse), their children have one of\rthe country's highest rates of MEB disorders. To address
the MEB health of Latinx children and their caregivers,\rculturally grounded interventions have been developed, implemented, and tested to promote
MEB health. The\rpurpose of this systematic review is to identify these interventions and summarize their findings.\rMethods: We searched PubMed,
PsycINFO, ERIC, Cochrane library, Scopus, HAPI, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect\rdatabases from 1980 through January 2020 as part of a registered
protocol (PROSPERO) following PRISMA\rguidelines. Our inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials of family interventions among a
predominantly Latinx sample. We assessed the risk of bias in the included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.\rFindings: Initially, we
identified 8,461 articles. After going through the inclusion criteria, twenty-three studies\rwere included in the review. We found a total of 10
interventions, with Familias Unidas and Bridges/Puentes\rhaving the most information available. Overall, 96% of studies demonstrated to be effective
in addressing MEB\rhealth, namely substance use, alcohol and tobacco use, risky sexual behaviors, conduct disorder, and internalizing symptoms among
Latinx youth. Most interventions focused on improving parent - child relationships as the\rmain mechanism to improve MEB health among Latinx youth.
\rDiscussion: Our findings show that family interventions can be effective for Latinx youth and their families. It is\rlikely that including cultural
values such as familismo and issues related to the Latinx experience such as\rimmigration and acculturation can help the long-term goal of improving
MEB health in Latinx communities.\rFuture studies investigating the different cultural components that may influence the acceptability and
effectiveness of the interventions are warranted.
Children and Youth Services Review, 145 : 1-
12
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders, Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Family therapy, Other Psychological Interventions
Oliveira, C., Pacheco, M., Borges, J., Meira, L., Santos, A.
University years are marked by multiple stressors. Consequently, university students often report anxiety symptoms or disorders, but
most remain untreated. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) has been proposed as an alternative to address known help-seeking
barriers, which were aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of ICBT for university students with
anxiety. A systematic search on three databases, EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Web of Science, and a manual search were performed. Fifteen studies were
identified, including a total of 1619 participants. Seven studies evaluated ICBT treatment for both anxiety and depression, three for social anxiety,
two for generalized anxiety, while the remaining (k = 3) only targeted anxiety, test anxiety, and comorbidity between anxiety and insomnia. Analyses
were performed based on a random-effects model using the metafor package in R. The results indicated that ICBT had a significant and positive effect
on university students with anxiety compared to controls at post-test (g = -0.48; 95 % CI: -0.63, -0.27; p <.001, I2 = 67.30 %).
Nevertheless, more research is required to determine the intervention components that are more relevant for therapeutic change, how much guidance is
required to produce better outcomes, and how patient engagement can be improved. Copyright © 2023
Internet Interventions, 31 (no
pagination) :
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
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)
Ng, T. J., Ling, J., Robbins, L. B., Kao, T. A.
BACKGROUND: Adolescent ineffective stress
management has been associated with negative health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression. Comprehensively evaluating the effects of stress
management interventions is needed.\rAIMS: The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effects of stress management interventions on
mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, depression, and positive and negative affect) and perform moderation analysis to identify moderators of
intervention effects on stress, anxiety, and depression among U.S. high school adolescents.\rMETHODS: Four databases (CINAHL, ERIC, PubMed, and
PsycINFO) were searched. After literature screening, 24 articles describing 25 studies were retained. Hedge's g was calculated using random-effects
models. Exploratory moderation analyses were performed to identify moderators.\rRESULTS: The pooled effects on reducing stress were -0.36. The
interventions had small effects on decreasing anxiety (g = -0.31) and depression (g = -0.23). Long-term follow-up effects were -0.77 on perceived
stress, -0.08 on anxiety, and -0.19 on depression. Mind-body and cognitive-behavioral interventions had moderate effects on reducing anxiety (g = -
0.51). Interventions with longer duration (>8 weeks) were more effective in reducing anxiety (-0.39 vs. -0.26) and depression (-0.36 vs. -0.17).
\rCONCLUSIONS: These findings support the short-term effectiveness of stress management interventions in improving mental health among high school
adolescents in the United States. Subsequent research efforts should focus on sustaining long-term effects.
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses
Association, : 10783903231161608
- Year: 2023
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)