Disorders - depressive disorders
Waters, A. M., Sluis, R. A., Usher, W., Farrell, L.
J., Donovan, C. L., Modecki, K. L., Zimmer-Gembeck,
M. J., Castle, M., Hinchey, J.
One productive avenue for building adolescents'
personal strengths and reducing mental health problems is integrating assessment and intervention into organised sports programs. We investigated the
efficacy of the RISE program, a rugby league development program for 12- to 15-year-old boys, which integrated a mental health and wellbeing system
called Life-Fit-Learning. The Life-Fit System is designed to measure youth's strengths and mental health symptoms and sends mental health feedback
to parents, provides group-based workshops, connects youth and parents to online psychoeducation resources, and provides individual telephone
follow-up and referral with parents of youth at high-risk for mental health problems. In this study, mental health and wellbeing outcomes were
compared in participants who did (RISE, N = 94) and did not (Comparison, N = 82) receive the RISE/Life-Fit-Learning program. RISE players reported
their self-satisfaction, grit, gratitude, prosocial behaviour, anxiety, depression, and behavioural problems using the Life-Fit System pre- and
post-program. Comparison participants completed measures twice, 6-months apart. Self-satisfaction did not change in RISE participants but declined
among comparison participants. In both groups, 26% of players scored in the high-risk range on at least one mental health measure. On mental health
measures, high-risk RISE players' depression and behavioural problems improved from pre-to post-program relative to no change among Comparison
players. Among participants who were not high-risk, RISE players' anxiety, depression, and behavioural problems did not change whereas Comparison
players' behavioural problems increased significantly. Results underscore the value of integrating strengths-based interventions and targeting youth
mental health problems within the context of junior sports development programs.
Behaviour
Research & Therapy, 157 : 104166
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Psychoeducation, Other Psychological Interventions, Personalised feedback, normative feedback, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Wang, Z., Li, Y., An, J., Dong, W., Li, H., Ma, H., Wang, J., Wu, J., Jiang, T., Wang, G.
Anxiety and depression have been growing global mental health
problems. The following studies explored the effect of interactive VR scenarios to find a low-cost and high-efficiency solution. Study 1 designed a 2
(anxiety and depression state) x4 (interactive VR scenarios) experiment, the results of 20 participants showed that the designed scenarios had good
restoration and presence, assisting to improve depression mood for people with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Study 2 further investigated
the intervention effects of two environment types (urban and park) and four interactive activities (automatic viewing, free-roaming, fishing, and
watering plants in the park environment), based on data from a 10-minute experiment conducted by 195 participants with mild to moderate anxiety and
depression. The subjective scales, EEG and EMG, and scenario experience were analyzed and the results showed that: (1) the restorative and present VR
scenarios were beneficial in alleviating state anxiety and depression; (2) the restorative environment and presence were significantly and positively
related to the reduction of anxiety and depression respectively, moreover, presence mediated the restorative environment on the recovery from anxiety
and depression; (3) the environmental settings, the complexity of interaction, human factors, and maturity of VR devices and technology were also key
factors that influenced the effects of interactive VR scenario experience and intervention. These studies revealed VR psychological intervention
scenarios could be designed with comprehensive factors. Moreover, they might help pave the way for future study in exploring the physiology and
psychology mode in virtual and real spaces, enhancing intervention effectiveness. Copyright © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel,
Switzerland.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public
Health, 19(13) (no pagination) :
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Vorontsova-Wenger, O., Ghisletta, P., Ababkov, V., Bondolfi, G., Barisnikov, K.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a
short mindfulness intervention on anxiety, stress and depression symptoms, as well as on inhibition of dominant responses and academic performance
among university students. Fifty volunteers (M(age)=23.8; SD=5.3) with high levels of depression, anxiety or stress were randomly allocated to a
mindfulness practice group or an active control group (listening to stories). Students who underwent the mindfulness practice had decreased levels of
anxiety, stress and depression compared to the control group. The mindfulness program also had a beneficial impact on the students' academic
performance. There was no change in the ability to inhibit dominant responses to neutral stimuli (letters); however, we observed a change in
responses to neutral faces. Further research perspectives and the clinical implications of the study are discussed.
Anxiety, stress, and coping, 35(2) : 141
-157
- 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), Mindfulness based
therapy
Vollbehr, N. K., Hoenders, H. J. R., Bartels-
Velthuis, A. A., Nauta, M. H., Castelein, S., Schroevers, M. J., Stant, A. D., Albers, C. J., de Jong, P. J., Ostafin, B.
D.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the added value of a 9-week mindful yoga intervention (MYI) as add-on to treatment as
usual (TAU) in reducing depression for young women (18-34 years) with major depressive disorder (MDD).\rMETHOD: Randomized controlled trial (RCT; n =
171) comparing TAU + MYI with TAU-only. Assessments were at baseline, postintervention, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Primary outcome measures
were clinician-rated and self-reported symptoms of depression, together with a diagnostic interview to establish MDD diagnosis that was restricted to
the baseline and 12-month follow-up assessments. Quality of life in various domains was assessed as secondary outcome measure. As potential mediators
for treatment efficacy, we included self-report measures of rumination, self-criticism, self-compassion, intolerance of uncertainty, perceived body
awareness and dispositional mindfulness, together with behavioral measures of attentional bias (AB) and depression-related self-associations.
\rRESULTS: Adding MYI to TAU did not lead to greater reduction of depression symptoms, lower rate of MDD diagnosis or increase in quality of life in
various domains of functioning at post and follow-up assessments. There were no indirect effects through any of the potential mediators, with the
exception of self-compassion.\rCONCLUSION: Adding MYI to TAU appeared not more efficacious than TAU-only in reducing depression symptoms in young
women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 90(12) : 925-941
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy, Mind-body exercises (e.g. yoga, tai chi, qigong)
Viswanathan, M., Wallace, I. F., Cook-Middleton, J., Kennedy, S. M., McKeeman, J., Hudson, K., Rains, C., Vander-Schaaf, E. B., Kahwati, L.
Importance:
Depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm behaviors in youth are associated with functional impairment and suicide. Objective(s): To review the
evidence on screening for depression or suicide risk in children and adolescents to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Data
Sources: PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and trial registries through July 19, 2021; references, experts, and surveillance through June
1, 2022. Study Selection: English-language, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of screening for depression or suicide risk; diagnostic test accuracy
studies; RCTs of psychotherapy and first-line pharmacotherapy; RCTs, observational studies, and systematic reviews reporting harms. Data Extraction
and Synthesis: Two reviewers assessed titles/abstracts, full-text articles, and study quality and extracted data; when at least 3 similar studies
were available, meta-analyses were conducted. Main Outcomes and Measures: Test accuracy, symptoms, response, remission, loss of diagnosis, mortality,
functioning, suicide-related events, and adverse events. Result(s): Twenty-one studies (N = 5433) were included for depression and 19 studies (N =
6290) for suicide risk. For depression, no studies reported on the direct effects of screening on health outcomes, and 7 studies (n = 3281) reported
sensitivity of screening instruments ranging from 0.59 to 0.94 and specificity from 0.38 to 0.96. Depression treatment with psychotherapy was
associated with improved symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory pooled standardized mean difference, -0.58 [95% CI, -0.83 to -0.34]; n = 471; 4 studies;
and Hamilton Depression Scale pooled mean difference, -2.25 [95% CI, -4.09 to -0.41]; n = 262; 3 studies) clinical response (3 studies with
statistically significant results using varying thresholds), and loss of diagnosis (relative risk, 1.73 [95% CI, 1.00 to 3.00; n = 395; 4 studies).
Pharmacotherapy was associated with improvement on symptoms (Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised mean difference, -3.76 [95% CI, -5.95 to -
1.57; n = 793; 3 studies), remission (relative risk, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.00 to 1.45]; n = 793; 3 studies) and functioning (Children's Global Assessment
Scale pooled mean difference, 2.60 (95% CI, 0.78 to 4.42; n = 793; 3 studies). Other outcomes were not statistically significantly different.
Differences in suicide-related outcomes and adverse events for pharmacotherapy when compared with placebo were not statistically significant. For
suicide risk, no studies reported on the direct benefits of screening on health outcomes, and 2 RCTs (n = 2675) reported no harms of screening. One
study (n = 581) reported on sensitivity of screening, ranging from 0.87 to 0.91; specificity was 0.60. Sixteen RCTs (n = 3034) reported on suicide
risk interventions. Interventions were associated with lower scores for the Beck Hopelessness Scale (pooled mean difference, -2.35 [95% CI, -4.06 to
-0.65]; n = 644; 4 RCTs). Findings for other suicide-related outcomes were mixed or not statistically significantly different. Conclusion and
Relevance: Indirect evidence suggested that some screening instruments were reasonably accurate for detecting depression. Psychotherapy and
pharmacotherapy were associated with some benefits and no statistically significant harms for depression, but the evidence was limited for suicide
risk screening instruments and interventions.. Copyright © 2022 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
JAMA, 328(15) : 1543-1566
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Depressive Disorders, Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder), At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions
(any), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
(SNRIs), Antidepressants
(any), Other biological interventions, Psychological Interventions
(any)
Tymofiyeva, O., Hu, M. Y., Sipes, B. S., Jakary, A., Glidden, D. V., Jariwala, N., Bhandari, S., Parks, K. C., Nguyen, C., Henje,
E., Yang, T. T.
Social distancing, home confinement, economic challenges, and COVID-19-related
illness and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly affect mental health in youth. One promising approach to reduce anxiety and
depression in adolescents is the neuroscience-based mindfulness intervention Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action (TARA). The objective of
this individually randomized waitlist-controlled trial (RCT) was (1) to test the feasibility of TARA, delivered partially over Zoom, and (2) to
assess changes in the emotional wellbeing in healthy adolescents between the ages of 14-18 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s):
Twenty-one healthy adolescents were randomized to the TARA intervention or to the waitlist control group in February 2020, just before the start of
the pandemic. The TARA group intervention was delivered in person for the first five sessions and remotely over Zoom for the remaining seven sessions
due to the pandemic. The participants' acceptability of TARA was assessed weekly using the Child Session Rating Scale (CSRS). The primary outcome
was the emotional wellbeing measured using emotional symptoms subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) pre/post-TARA. We also
explored weekly changes in TARA participants' wellbeing using the Child Outcome Rating Scale (CORS). Result(s): The overall session rating in TARA
participants improved after the switch to Zoom (Cohen's d = 1.2, p = 0.008). The results of the two-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant
difference in the change of the SDQ emotional symptoms during the 12 weeks between the TARA group and waitlist-control group (timepoint x group
interaction: F = 0.77, p = 0.38). The exploratory analysis using the CORS in the TARA participants showed a significant improvement in their
functioning over the weeks of training. Conclusion(s): Our results support the feasibility of TARA delivered over Zoom. While our primary outcome did
not provide support for the improvement of the emotional wellbeing with TARA compared to a passive control group, our exploratory analysis in the
intervention group indicated an improved functioning over the weeks of TARA training. The important general positive impact of this study lies in the
possibility of offering a neuroscience-based mindfulness intervention remotely to youth living in remote areas and for all youth during pandemic
times. Copyright © 2022 Tymofiyeva, Hu, Sipes, Jakary, Glidden, Jariwala, Bhandari, Parks, Nguyen, Henje and Yang.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13 (no
pagination) :
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Townsend, Christopher, Humpston, Clara, Rogers, Jack, Goodyear, Victoria, Lavis, Anna, Michail, Maria
Background: Recent research has investigated the use of serious games as a form of therapeutic intervention for depression
and anxiety in young people. Aims: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis into the effectiveness of gaming interventions for treating
either depression or anxiety in individuals aged 12-25 years. Method: An electronic search was conducted on the 30 March 2020, using PsycINFO, ISI
Web of Science Core Collection, Medline and EMBASE databases. Standardised effect sizes (Hedge's g) were calculated for between-participant
comparisons between experimental (therapeutic intervention) and control conditions, and within-participant comparisons between pre- and post-
intervention time points for repeated measures designs. Results: Twelve studies (seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and five non-randomised
studies) were included. For RCTs, there was a statistically significant and robust effect (g = -0.54, 95% CI -1.00 to -0.08) favouring the
therapeutic intervention when treating youth depression. For non-RCTs, using a repeated measures design, the overall effect was also strong (g = -
0.75, 95% CI -1.64 to 0.14) favouring therapeutic intervention, but this was not statistically significant. Interestingly, we found no statistically
significant effect for treating youth anxiety. Conclusions: There is preliminary evidence to suggest that gaming interventions are an effective
treatment for youth depression, but not anxiety. Further research is warranted to establish the utility, acceptability and effectiveness of gaming
interventions in treating mental health problems in young people. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
, 8 :
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Tolcher, K., Cauble, M., Downs, A.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of three different
gratitude interventions on college student well-being. Participant(s): Participants were 132 college students at a university in the northwest
sampled between September 2019 and February 2020. Method(s): Participants were randomly assigned to one of three gratitude interventions (journaling,
reflection, app prompted reflection) or an activity-matched control group for 8weeks and completed baseline and post-intervention assessments of
well-being (e.g., satisfaction with life, happiness, resilience, depression, anxiety, and stress). Result(s): Participants in all three gratitude
intervention groups showed improvements in well-being over time, whereas the control group did not report any such improvements. Gratitude journaling
appeared to have the most significant positive impact on well-being and affective functioning. Conclusion(s): Gratitude interventions are simple,
easy to implement, low-cost tools that can increase overall well-being and decrease negative affect, stress, and anxiety in college students.
Journal of American college health : J
of ACH, : 1-5
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Toh, S. H. Y., Tan, J. H. Y., Kosasih, F. R., Sundermann, O.
BACKGROUND: Excessive stress is a major global
health concern, particularly in young adults. Short skills-focused self-guided interventions (SGIs) on smartphones are a scalable way to improve
stress-coping skills at the population level.\rOBJECTIVE: In this randomized controlled trial, we aimed to examine the possible efficacy of a
recently developed stress-coping SGI (Intellect) in improving psychological distress, relative to an active control group and 2 potential moderators
of this predicted relationship (ie, psychological mindedness [PM] and coping self-efficacy [CSE]).\rMETHODS: University students (N=321) were
randomly assigned to either an 8-day SGI on stress-coping or an active control group. Self-reported measures were obtained at baseline, after the
intervention, and at the 1-month follow-up. The primary outcome was psychological stress (Psychological Stress Measure-9). Secondary outcomes were
anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). PM and CSE were assessed as potential moderators
at baseline.\rRESULTS: The final sample (n=264) included 188 (71.2%) female, 66 (25%) male, 7 (2.7%) nonbinary, and 3 (1.1%) others participants with
a mean age of 22.5 (SD 5.41) years. The intervention group reported significantly lower perceived stress (partial eta-squared
[etap2]=0.018; P=.03) and anxiety (etap2=0.019; P=.03) levels after intervention relative to the active control group. The
effects on perceived stress levels remained statistically significant at the 1-month follow-up (etap2=0.015; P=.05). Students with the
lowest CSE and highest PM experienced the fastest decline in perceived stress levels (beta=6.37, 95% Cl 2.98-9.75). Improvements in anxiety levels
were not observed at 1-month follow-up. Similarly, no intervention effects were found for depression levels at postintervention and follow-up
periods.\rCONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the Intellect stress-coping SGI is effective in reducing perceived stress and anxiety levels
among university students. Mobile health apps are brief, scalable, and can make important contributions to public mental health.\rTRIAL REGISTRATION:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04978896; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04978896.
JMIR
Formative Research, 6(12) : e40723
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Psychoeducation, Skills training, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Thielemann, J. F. B., Kasparik, B., Konig, J., Unterhitzenberger, J., Rosner, R.
BACKGROUND: Among minors,
posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are a common consequence of traumatic events requiring trauma-focused treatment.\rOBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis
quantified treatment effects of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) with PTSS as primary outcome and symptoms of depression,
anxiety, and grief as secondary outcomes.\rPARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Inclusion criteria for individual settings: (1) patients aged between 3 and 21,
(2) at least one traumatic event, (3) minimum 8 sessions of (4) TF-CBT according to Cohen, Mannarino and Deblinger (2006, 2017), (5) a quantitative
PTSS measure at pre- and post-treatment, (6) original research only. Inclusion criteria for group settings: had to involve (1) psychoeducation, (2)
coping strategies, (3) exposure, (4) cognitive processing/restructuring, (5) contain some reference to the manual and no minimum session number was
required.\rMETHODS: Searched databases were PsychInfo, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PTSDPubs, PubMed, Web of Science, and OpenGrey.\rRESULTS: 4523
participants from 28 RCTs and 33 uncontrolled studies were included. TF-CBT showed large improvements across all outcomes from pre- to post-treatment
(PTSS: g = 1.14, CI 0.97-1.30) and favorable results compared to any control condition including wait-list, treatment as usual, and active treatment
at post-treatment (PTSS: g = 0.52, CI 0.31-0.73). Effects were more pronounced for group settings. We give pooled estimates adjusted for risk of bias
and publication bias, which initially limited the quality of the analyzed data.\rCONCLUSIONS: TF-CBT is an effective treatment for pediatric PTSS as
well as for depressive, anxiety, and grief symptoms. It is superior to control conditions, supporting international guidelines recommending it as a
first-line treatment.
Child Abuse &
Neglect, 134 : 105899
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depressive Disorders
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-
CBT)
Theurel,
A., Witt, A., Shankland, R.
The mental
health of university students is a serious public health issue. The alarming trend of high levels of untreated psychological distress observed during
the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for prevention programs. Digital tools are a promising means of delivering such programs. Web-based
programs are acceptable and effective at improving mental health problems and general mental well-being. However, the usefulness of such digital
prevention approaches to address the multiple issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic needs to be tested. The current study assessed the effectiveness
of an 8-week online intervention, integrating a variety of evidence-based strategies for improving French university students' mental health.
Students were assigned to: (1) the online self-help program ETUCARE (n = 53), or (2) the control condition (n = 50). All the participants completed
pre- and post-intervention questionnaires that assessed mental health problems and psychological well-being. The findings revealed that, compared to
the control group, participation in the online program was associated with higher levels of psychological well-being post-test and fewer clinical
symptoms of psychological distress, anxiety, and alcohol consumption. These preliminary findings suggest that the ETUCARE program is a promising
multicomponent intervention to buffer the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in French university students.
International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health [Electronic
Resource], 19(16) : 22
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders, Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Thabrew, H., Boggiss, A. L., Lim, D., Schache, K., Morunga, E., Cao, N., Cavadino, A., Serlachius, A. S.
Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of 'Whitu: seven ways in seven
days', a well-being application (app) for young people. Design Prospective randomised controlled trial of Whitu against waitlist control, with 45
participants in each arm. Participants 90 New Zealand young people aged 16-30 recruited via a social media advertising campaign. Setting
Participants' homes. Interventions Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and refined from a prototype version that was evaluated during a smaller
qualitative study, 'Whitu: seven ways in seven days' is a well-being app that, as its name suggests, contains seven modules to help young people
(1) recognise and rate emotions, (2) learn relaxation and mindfulness, (3) practice self-compassion and (4) gratitude, (5) connect with others, (6)
care for their physical health and (7) engage in goal-setting. It can be completed within a week or as desired. Main outcome measures Primary
outcomes were changes in well-being on the WHO 5-item Well-Being Index and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Secondary outcomes were
changes in depression on the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, anxiety on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, self-
compassion on the Self Compassion Scale-Short Form, stress on the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, sleep on the single-item Sleep Quality Scale and
user engagement on the end-user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale and via qualitative feedback during an online survey. Outcomes were
evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks (primary study endpoint) and 3 months, and analysed using linear mixed models with group, time and a group-time
interaction. Results At 4 weeks, participants in the Whitu group experienced significantly higher emotional (Mean difference (md) 13.19 (3.96 to
22.42); p=0.005) and mental (md 2.44 (0.27 to 4.61); p=0.027) well-being, self-compassion (md 0.56 (0.28 to 0.83); p<0.001) and sleep (md 1.13 (0.24
to 2.02); p=0.018), and significantly lower stress (md -4.69 (-7.61 to -1.76); p=0.002) and depression (md -5.34 (-10.14 to -0.53); p=0.030),
compared with the waitlist controls. Group differences remained statistically significant at 3 months for all outcomes. Symptoms of anxiety were also
lower in the intervention group at 4 weeks (p=0.096), with statistically significant differences at 3 months (md -2.31 (-4.54 to -0.08); p=0.042).
Usability of Whitu was high (subjective ratings of 4.45 (0.72) and 4.38 (0.79) out of 5 at 4 weeks and 3 months, respectively) and qualitative
feedback indicated individual and cultural acceptability of the app. Conclusions Given the evolving psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic,
Whitu could provide a clinically effective and scalable means of improving the well-being, mental health and resilience of young people. Replication
of current findings with younger individuals and in other settings is planned. Trial registration number Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials
Registry (ACTRN12620000516987). Copyright © 2022 Authors.
BMJ Open, 12(5) (no
pagination) :
- Year: 2022
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Depressive Disorders
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)