Laura Coote , Laura Kelly , Charlotte Graham , Luc Curtis-Gretton , Maisie Green , Louisa Salhi , Santiago de Ossorno Garcia , Aaron Sefi , Hayden Holmes
{"title":"An early economic evaluation of Kooth, a web-based mental health platform for children and young people with emerging mental health needs","authors":"Laura Coote , Laura Kelly , Charlotte Graham , Luc Curtis-Gretton , Maisie Green , Louisa Salhi , Santiago de Ossorno Garcia , Aaron Sefi , Hayden Holmes","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100748","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>“Kooth” is a web-based mental health platform commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS), local authorities, charities, and businesses in the UK. The platform gives children and young people (CYP) access to an online community of peers and a team of counsellors. This study reports an early economic evaluation of the potential benefits of Kooth in the UK.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>An early evidence cost calculator was built to estimate the potential costs and savings of implementing Kooth from a UK NHS and crime sector perspective. A decision tree structure was used to track the progress of CYP with emerging mental health needs (EMHN), comparing CYP with access to Kooth to CYP without access to Kooth. The model implemented a 12-month time horizon and followed a typical Kooth contract in relation to costing, engagement, and CYP demographics.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The base case results followed a cohort of 2160 CYP. The results of the cost calculator estimated that engagement with Kooth is associated with a cost saving of £469,237 to the NHS across a 12-month time horizon, or £236.15 per CYP with an EMHN. From a combined NHS and UK crime sector perspective, the cost savings increased to £489,897, or £246.54 per CYP with an EMHN. The largest cost savings were provided by an estimated reduction of 5346 GP appointments and 298 antidepressant prescriptions. For this cohort, the model predicted that engagement with Kooth averted 6 hospitalisations due to suicidal ideation and 13 hospitalisations due to self-harm. Furthermore, the number of smokers and binge drinkers was reduced by 20 and 24, respectively. When a crime sector perspective was taken, 3 crimes were averted.</p></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><p>This early model demonstrates that Kooth has the potential to be a cost-saving intervention from both an NHS and a combined NHS and UK crime sector perspective. Cost savings were provided through aversion in clinical and social outcomes. The model used a conservative approach to balance the uncertainty around assumptions of the intermediate outcomes (GP and medication use). However, it is limited by a paucity of costing data and published evidence relating to the impact of digital mental health platforms.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100748"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000411/pdfft?md5=8ca43b4c9996d55601de1b9066dd24d4&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000411-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140952153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editorial for INVENT special issue of the ISRII 2022 meeting","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100749","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100749","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100749"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000423/pdfft?md5=0768283ea64ab5accbf74a0968ac84af&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000423-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141045018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dror Ben-Zeev , Alexa Beaulieu , Jessy Guler , Anna Larsen , Ahmad Bawaneh
{"title":"Readiness for mHealth interventions in Jordan: Refugee camp and urban community survey","authors":"Dror Ben-Zeev , Alexa Beaulieu , Jessy Guler , Anna Larsen , Ahmad Bawaneh","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100746","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100746","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Jordan hosts one of the largest populations of refugees in the world. This study evaluated the capacity, infrastructure, and interest in mobile health interventions to address unmet mental health needs among refugees and non-refugees in Jordan. We surveyed 209 (141 refugees) adults and youth in urban, rural, and refugee camp settings. Survey results indicated that mobile device ownership was lower among refugees than non-refugees (71 % vs. 100 %, respectively). Refugee phone users had less access to smartphones than non-refugees (75 % vs. 96 %, respectively). Refugees and non-refugees reported using mobile devices for diverse activities including calling (83 % vs. 100 %, respectively), texting (28 % vs. 87 %, respectively) social media (45 % vs. 94 %, respectively), watching videos (23 % vs. 90 %, respectively), and studying (34 % vs. 72 %, respectively). Most respondents had reliable access to electricity (75 % vs. 99 %, respectively) and to mobile-cellular service (67 % vs. 97 %, respectively). Refugees and non-refugees differed substantially in their access to WiFi (14 % vs. 91 %, respectively). Both groups identified anger, anxiety, depression, traumatic memories, and eating problems as the most common mental health problems in their communities. Approximately half of refugees (44 %) and non-refugees (50 %) reported that their communities had insufficient or no access to mental health resources. Most refugees (78 %) and non-refugee (87 %) believed that using mobile devices to provide support for people with mental health conditions would be helpful. Overall, both groups' reported access to mobile technologies and openness to digital mental health treatment options suggest that mHealth interventions may be feasible and welcomed in these communities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100746"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000393/pdfft?md5=5c38cb2875616bab758588184ba4c420&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000393-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140879264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revealing the source: How awareness alters perceptions of AI and human-generated mental health responses","authors":"Gagan Jain , Samridhi Pareek , Per Carlbring","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100745","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100745","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In mental health care, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into internet interventions could significantly improve scalability and accessibility, provided that AI is perceived as being as effective as human professionals. This longitudinal study investigates the comparative perceptions of ChatGPT and human mental health support professionals across three dimensions: authenticity, professionalism, and practicality. Initially, 140 participants evaluated responses from both sources without knowing their origin, revealing that AI-generated responses were rated significantly higher across all dimensions. Six months later, the same cohort (n = 111) reassessed these messages with the source of each response disclosed, aiming to understand the impact of source transparency on perceptions and trust towards AI. The results indicate a shift in perception towards human responses, only in terms of authenticity (Cohen's d = 0.45) and reveal a significant correlation between trust in AI and its practicality rating (r = 0.25), but not with authenticity or professionalism. A comparative analysis between blind and informed evaluations revealed a significant shift in favour of human response ratings (Cohen's d = 0.42–0.57), while AI response ratings experienced minimal variation. These findings highlight the nuanced acceptance and role of AI in mental health support, emphasizing that the disclosure of the response source significantly shapes perceptions and trust in AI-generated assistance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100745"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000381/pdfft?md5=b59efae2eec3d7973679ab7b97a46467&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000381-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140878534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Guided web app intervention for reducing symptoms of depression in postpartum women: Results of a feasibility randomized controlled trial","authors":"Pamela Franco , Marcia Olhaberry , Saskia Kelders , Antonia Muzard , Pim Cuijpers","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100744","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100744","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Chile faces a significant postpartum depression prevalence and treatment gap, necessitating accessible interventions. While cognitive-behavioral internet-based interventions have proven effective in high-income countries, this field is underdeveloped in Chile. Based on the country's widespread use of digital technology, a guided 8-week cognitive-behavioral web app intervention named “<em>Mamá, te entiendo</em>” was developed.</p></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><p>This study aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of “<em>Mamá, te entiendo</em>”, for reducing depressive symptomatology in postpartum women.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Sixty-five postpartum women with minor or major depression were randomly assigned to either intervention or waitlist. Primary outcomes centered on study feasibility, intervention feasibility, and acceptability. Semi-structured interviews with a sub-sample enriched the understanding of participants' experiences. Secondary outcomes included mental health variables assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Chilean women displayed great interest in the intervention. 44.8 % of participants completed the intervention. Participants reported high satisfaction and engagement levels, with interviewees highlighting the value of the intervention's content, exercises, and therapist's feedback. However, preliminary efficacy analysis didn't reveal a significant interaction between group and time for outcome measures.</p></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><p>This research represents a pioneering effort in Chile to evaluate an internet-based intervention for postpartum depression symptoms. The demonstrated feasibility and acceptability highlight the potential of integrating technology-driven approaches into mental health interventions. However, the intervention did not demonstrate superiority, as both groups exhibited similar positive progress in several outcomes. Therefore, the following research phase should involve a larger and more diverse sample to assess the intervention's effectiveness, identify influencing factors, and determine the individuals who benefit the most.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100744"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221478292400037X/pdfft?md5=0766f34b959a85f82df1805dbbede146&pid=1-s2.0-S221478292400037X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140769858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rosa Lorente-Català , Pablo Font-Furnieles , Raquel Escriva-Sanchis , Clara Bertó-García , Pere Vera-Albero , Azucena García-Palacios
{"title":"Telephone support vs. self-guidance in an Internet-based self-administered psychological program for the treatment of depression: Protocol for a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial","authors":"Rosa Lorente-Català , Pablo Font-Furnieles , Raquel Escriva-Sanchis , Clara Bertó-García , Pere Vera-Albero , Azucena García-Palacios","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100742","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100742","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Depression is already the leading psychological disability around the world, impairing daily life, well-being, and social functioning and leading to personal and social costs. Despite the effectiveness of Evidence-Based Psychological Practices (EBPP), a significant percentage of depressive individuals remain untreated, especially in Primary Care (PC) settings in Spain. There are numerous barriers that limit access to EBPPs, including high costs, professional training, and adherence problems. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer a cost-effective way to disseminate and scale EBPPs to address these barriers. The iCBT program Smiling is Fun has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective treatment for depression in various Randomized Control Trials. However, adherence and implementation problems in real-world settings need to be addressed. Implementation research can help evaluate these challenges by identifying facilitators and barriers to the implementation process in PC. In this regard, including human support has been pointed out as a possible key factor in addressing the population's mental health needs and promoting treatment adherence.</p></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><p>The current study aims to examine the effectiveness, adherence rates, and implementation process of Smiling is Fun to address depression in a PC setting considering the influence of telephone support vs no support.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The proposed research is a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Type I study, with a two-armed randomized controlled design, which will test a clinical intervention for major depressive disorder while gathering information on its implementation in a real-world setting. The study will include adult patients with mild to moderate symptoms of depression. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: self-applied psychotherapy or self-applied psychotherapy with psychotherapeutic telephone support. The trial will recruit 110 patient participants, with a loss-to-follow-up rate of 30 %.</p></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><p>A study protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study is presented with the aim to assess the implementation of Smiling is Fun for the treatment of depression in PC. The study evaluates the influence of telephone support during a self-administered intervention compared to unguided self-administration. The main goal is to address the barriers and facilitators of the implementation process and to promote treatment adherence. Ultimately, the results of the study could help in the uptake of sustainable resources so that the population could gain better access to psychological interventions in mental health services.</p></div><div><h3>Registration</h3><p><span>ClinicalTrials.gov</span><svg><path></path></svg>; <span>NCT06230237</span><svg><path></path></svg>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100742"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000356/pdfft?md5=23f376aa0372cbcecad603204a30a873&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000356-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140794151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emily E. Bernstein , Jennifer L. Greenberg , Hilary Weingarden , Ivar Snorrason , Berta Summers , Jasmine Williams , Rachel Quist , Joshua Curtiss , Oliver Harrison , Sabine Wilhelm
{"title":"The use of coaching in smartphone app-based cognitive behavioral therapy for body dysmorphic disorder","authors":"Emily E. Bernstein , Jennifer L. Greenberg , Hilary Weingarden , Ivar Snorrason , Berta Summers , Jasmine Williams , Rachel Quist , Joshua Curtiss , Oliver Harrison , Sabine Wilhelm","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100743","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is severe and undertreated. Digital mental health could be key to expanding access to evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for BDD (CBT-BDD). Coach guidance is posited to be essential for effective uptake of digital interventions. However, little is known about how different patients may use coaching, what patterns correspond to meaningful outcomes, and how to match coaching to patient needs.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Participants were 77 adults who received a 12-week guided smartphone CBT-BDD. Bachelor's-level coaches were available via asynchronous messaging. We analyzed the 400 messages sent by users to coaches during treatment. Message content was coded using the efficiency model of support (i.e., usability, engagement, fit, knowledge, and implementation). We aimed to clarify when and for what purposes patients with BDD used coaching, and if we can meaningfully classify patients by these patterns. We then assessed potential baseline predictors of coach usage, and whether distinct patterns relate to clinical outcomes.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Users on average sent 5.88 messages (SD = 4.51, range 1–20) and received 9.84 (SD = 5.74, range 2–30). Regarding frequency of sending messages, latent profile analysis revealed three profiles, characterized by: (1) peak mid-treatment (16.88 %), (2) bimodal/more communication early and late in treatment (10.39 %), and (3) consistent low/no communication (72.73 %). Regarding content, four profiles emerged, characterized by mostly (1) engagement (51.95 %), (2) fit (15.58 %), (3) knowledge (15.58 %), and (4) miscellaneous/no messages (16.88 %). There was a significant relationship between frequency profile and age, such that the early/late peak group was older than the low communication group, and frequency profile and adherence, driven by the mid-treatment peak group completing more modules than the low contact group. Regarding content, the engagement and knowledge groups began treatment with more severe baseline symptoms than the fit group. Content profile was associated with dropout, suggesting higher dropout rates in the miscellaneous/no contact group and reduced rates in the engagement group. There was no relationship between profile membership and other outcomes.</p></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><p>The majority of participants initiated little contact with their coach and the most common function of communications was to increase engagement. Results suggest that older individuals may prefer or require more support than younger counterparts early in treatment. Additionally, whereas individuals using coaching primarily for engagement may be at lower risk of dropping out, those who do not engage at all may be at elevated risk. Findings can support more personalized, data-driven coaching protocols and more efficient allocation of coaching resources.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100743"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000368/pdfft?md5=4341dac24ae6911e4ff9edf5ff8388c7&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000368-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140621763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of a single session low-threshold digital intervention for procrastination behaviors among university students (Focus): Findings from a randomized controlled trial","authors":"Katarina Åsberg , Marie Löf , Marcus Bendtsen","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100741","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Procrastination behaviors are common among university students, and have been found to be associated with stress, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and poorer academic performance. There is a need for interventions that can reach students at scale, and therefore this study aimed to estimate the effects of a single session low-threshold digital intervention (Focus) for procrastination behaviors among university students in Sweden.</p></div><div><h3>Methods and analysis</h3><p>A two-arm, parallel groups (1:1), single blind randomized controlled trial was conducted between February 8 to April 26, 2023. The study used email to invite university students across Sweden to participate in the trial. Both the intervention and the control group were invited to assess their current procrastination behaviors using the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS). The intervention group immediately received feedback and behavior change advice by means of an interactive website, while the control group was shown their total PPS score without any further feedback. Students were included in the study if they scored 20 points or more on the PPS. Our primary outcome was procrastination behavior measured at 2 months post-randomization. Analyses were conducted using multilevel regression models estimated with Bayesian inference.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 2209 participants (intervention: 1109, control: 1100) were randomized. The average age of participants was 26.4 years (SD = 7.8) and 65 % were women (<em>n</em> = 1442). The mean PPS score at baseline was 35.6 points (of a maximum of 60). Primary outcome data were available for 45 % (<em>n</em> = 498) of the intervention group and 55 % (<em>n</em> = 601) of the control group. The evidence suggested no marked difference between groups regarding any of the outcomes, although there was weak evidence of lower physical activity in the intervention group. Qualitative findings from open-ended responses uncovered a variety of views on procrastination and perceived problems that may follow. Those not feeling supported by Focus explained having troubles adopting the advice given and converting their intentions into action without more continuous support.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Access to a single session of feedback and behavior change advice by means of an interactive website did not produce differential self-reported procrastination among university students who took the opportunity to self-assess their behaviors. The findings are limited by assessment reactivity due to screening at baseline and attrition to follow-up.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100741"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000344/pdfft?md5=712b5fd10dd483d8839e2ed07a6e8caf&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000344-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140536484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristina Fagerkvist , Kirsi Jahnukainen , Lisa Ljungman , Claudia Lampic , Lena Wettergren
{"title":"Efficacy of a web-based psychoeducational intervention, Fex-can sex, for young adult childhood cancer survivors with sexual dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Kristina Fagerkvist , Kirsi Jahnukainen , Lisa Ljungman , Claudia Lampic , Lena Wettergren","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100739","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100739","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>No web-based interventions addressing sexual problems are available for young adult survivors of childhood cancer.</p></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><p>This study aimed to test the efficacy of a web-based psychoeducational intervention, Fex-Can Sex, to alleviate sexual problems in young adults treated for cancer during childhood.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>This randomized controlled trial tested the effects of a 12-week, self-help, web-based intervention. Young adults (aged 19–40) reporting sexual dysfunction were drawn from a population-based national cohort of childhood cancer survivors and randomized to either an intervention group (IG, <em>n</em> = 142) or a wait-list control group (CG, <em>n</em> = 136). The primary outcome was ‘Satisfaction with sex life’ assessed by the PROMIS® SexFS v 2.0. Secondary outcomes included other SexFS domains, body image (BIS), emotional distress (HADS), health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), and sex-related self-efficacy. Surveys were completed at baseline (T0), directly after the intervention (T1), and three months later (T2). The effects of the intervention were tested using <em>t</em>-test and linear mixed models, including intention-to-treat (ITT) and subgroups analysis. Adherence was based on log data extracted from the website system. The intervention included an open-ended question about perceived sexual problems.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>No effect of the intervention was found in the primary outcome. Regarding secondary outcomes, the IG reported less vaginal dryness (Lubrication subscale) than the CG at T1 (<em>p</em> = 0.048) and T2 (<em>p</em> = 0.023). Furthermore, at T1, the IG reported less emotional distress than the CG (<em>p</em> = 0.047). Subgroup analyses showed that those with greater sexual problems at T0 improved over time (T1 and T2), regardless of group allocation. Overall, adherence to the intervention was low and participants' activity levels did not change the results. Additionally, some members of the IG reported increased understanding and acceptance of their sexual problems.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The Fex-Can Sex intervention shows potential to improve sexual function, especially among those with greater dysfunction. To increase adherence and effect, we recommend the intervention to be further developed including more tailored content.</p></div><div><h3>Clinical trial registration</h3><p>ISRCTN Registry, trial number: 33081791 (registered on November 27, 2019).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100739"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000320/pdfft?md5=e110a64cfc2486f6c95f11ca64fd1fd1&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000320-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140536483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah Vigerland , Sandra Fredlander , Kristina Aspvall , Maral Jolstedt , Fabian Lenhard , David Mataix-Cols , Brjánn Ljótsson , Eva Serlachius
{"title":"Effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders within routine clinical care in rural Sweden","authors":"Sarah Vigerland , Sandra Fredlander , Kristina Aspvall , Maral Jolstedt , Fabian Lenhard , David Mataix-Cols , Brjánn Ljótsson , Eva Serlachius","doi":"10.1016/j.invent.2024.100738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Few studies have evaluated the implementation of ICBT in regular child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). This study aimed to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of ICBT for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) within a rural CAMHS. The study also explored outcome predictors and long-term outcomes.</p><p>Eighty-three participants were consecutively recruited from a non-specialized CAMHS in Region Jämtland Härjedalen in northern Sweden. Therapist-guided ICBT was offered during 12 weeks to children aged 8–17 with an anxiety disorder or OCD. Acceptability and feasibility measures included treatment adherence, treatment satisfaction, and adverse events. The primary outcome measure was the Clinical Global Impression–Severity. Secondary measures of effectiveness included clinician-, self-, and parent-ratings of symptom severity and functional impairment. Assessments were completed at baseline, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up (primary endpoint). A two-year follow up was conducted using medical records. Potential predictors included both patient characteristics and treatment variables.</p><p>Results indicated that ICBT was both acceptable and feasible according to study measures. Statistically significant improvements were found from baseline to the three-month follow-up on clinician rated severity (<em>B</em> [SE] = −0.92 [0.09]; <em>p</em> < .001), as well as on all secondary measures. Forty-three percent of participants no longer fulfilled criteria for their principal disorder at the three-month follow-up. No serious adverse events were reported. Clinical improvement was highest among children with higher functioning at baseline (<em>B</em> [SE] = −0.05 [0.02]; <em>p</em> < .05). Forty-six percent of participants had been in contact with CAMHS during the two-year follow-up period, mainly for reasons other than their initial diagnosis. Findings suggest that ICBT could be an acceptable and feasible treatment option for young people with anxiety disorders and OCD in rural non-specialized CAMHS settings. Further studies are needed to confirm treatment effectiveness in this setting. Trial registration: <span>NCT02926365</span><svg><path></path></svg>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48615,"journal":{"name":"Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 100738"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000319/pdfft?md5=80983f291904bd1324ed76dec6ca8291&pid=1-s2.0-S2214782924000319-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140533701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}