Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Mental Health Conditions

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Heather Hadjistavropoulos, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Regina

Disqualifiers: High suicide risk, Psychosis, Alcohol or drug problems, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 8-16 weeks

250 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It might be best to discuss this with the trial organizers or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Mental Health Conditions?

Research shows that Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT) is effective for reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) among public safety personnel. Participants reported high satisfaction and significant improvements in mental health symptoms, indicating that ICBT is a beneficial and accessible treatment option. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT) safe for humans?

Research on Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT) for public safety personnel shows that it is generally well-received and considered beneficial, with high treatment satisfaction and engagement reported. While some challenges like timeline and technology issues were noted, no significant safety concerns were identified in the studies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the PSP Wellbeing Course different from other treatments for mental health conditions?

The PSP Wellbeing Course is unique because it is an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) specifically tailored for public safety personnel, helping to overcome barriers to accessing traditional in-person therapy. It offers flexibility in scheduling and includes personalized therapist support, making it accessible and adaptable to individual needs. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study evaluates a transdiagnostic Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) recently tailored for Canadian public safety personnel (PSP) reporting symptoms of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress. Outcomes of interest include engagement with the intervention, changes in symptoms and functioning, and strengths and limitations of implementing ICBT with Canadian PSP.

Research Team

Heather D Hadjistavropoulos, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Regina

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Canadian public safety personnel in Saskatchewan or Quebec who are over 18 and experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. Participants must have internet access and be willing to name a physician for emergencies.

Inclusion Criteria

willing to provide a physician as emergency contact

able to access a computer and internet service

I experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Online questionnaire and telephone screening

Treatment

Participants receive transdiagnostic Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy tailored for public safety personnel, with optional e-therapist support

8-16 weeks

Weekly online lessons with optional e-therapist support

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for symptom improvement and functioning at multiple timepoints post-enrollment

52 weeks

Assessments at 8, 26, and 52 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• PSP Wellbeing Course

Trial Overview The study tests an Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) program tailored for those with psychological trauma, depression, and anxiety. It measures how well participants engage with the course and any changes in their mental health.

Participant Groups

Group I: Tailored ICBT for PSP Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Therapist-guided, Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy tailored specifically for Canadian public safety personnel.

PSP Wellbeing Course is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as PSP Wellbeing Course for:

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety
• Depression

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Regina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

59

Recruited

9,100+

Government of Canada

Collaborator

Trials

13

Recruited

2,400+

Findings from Research

In a study involving 150 public safety personnel, both transdiagnostic and PTSD-specific internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) showed high client satisfaction and significant symptom improvement, with 98% of participants recommending the course to others.

More participants preferred transdiagnostic ICBT over PTSD-specific ICBT, although the difference was not statistically significant; however, transdiagnostic ICBT led to greater reductions in panic disorder symptoms compared to PTSD-specific ICBT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for symptoms of PTSD among public safety personnel: Initial outcomes of an open cohort preference trial of transdiagnostic and disorder-specific therapy. McCall, H., Dear, BF., Landry, C., et al.[2023]

A study involving 82 Canadian public safety personnel (PSP) found that internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) was perceived as beneficial, with clients reporting positive impacts such as skill development and normalizing mental health issues.

Clients appreciated the flexible format and content of the ICBT program, but also faced challenges like technology issues and time constraints; their feedback led to rapid improvements in the program tailored specifically for PSP.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Insights into internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for public safety personnel: Exploration of client experiences during and after treatment. Beahm, JD., McCall, HC., Carleton, RN., et al.[2021]

A tailored internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) program for Canadian public safety personnel (N=83) resulted in large reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, and moderate reductions in PTSD symptoms after 8 weeks of treatment.

Most participants who initially reported high levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD experienced clinically significant symptom improvements, indicating that ICBT is a promising treatment option for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Initial Outcomes of Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Tailored to Public Safety Personnel: Longitudinal Observational Study. Hadjistavropoulos, HD., McCall, HC., Thiessen, DL., et al.[2021]

A study involving 118 spouses and significant others of public safety personnel (PSP) found that a self-guided, internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) course was perceived as helpful by 89% of participants, indicating its potential effectiveness for addressing mental health concerns in this group.

Participants provided feedback that led to improvements in the ICBT course, suggesting that tailoring the content and delivery to the specific needs of SSOs of PSP can enhance its usefulness and accessibility.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Tailored to Spouses and Significant Others of Public Safety Personnel: Formative Evaluation Study. Hadjistavropoulos, HD., Reiser, SJ., Beahm, JD., et al.[2023]

A brief internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program effectively treated anxiety disorders and major depression in 32 participants, with 81% completing the 8-week course.

Participants showed significant improvements in depression and anxiety scales, with high satisfaction ratings, while requiring less clinician time compared to the original longer program, suggesting that a condensed format can still be highly effective.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An open trial of a brief transdiagnostic internet treatment for anxiety and depression. Dear, BF., Titov, N., Schwencke, G., et al.[2022]

The BIP OCD Junior program, an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) for children aged 7-11 with OCD, showed significant improvement in symptoms after 12 weeks, with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.86).

Both children and parents found the treatment credible and were highly satisfied, suggesting that ICBT could be a feasible option for young children with OCD, although further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm its efficacy compared to traditional face-to-face therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for young children with obsessive-compulsive disorder: development and initial evaluation of the BIP OCD Junior programme. Aspvall, K., Andrén, P., Lenhard, F., et al.[2022]

The Wellbeing Course, an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program, was successfully completed by all 10 participants with anxiety symptoms, demonstrating high acceptability and feasibility in a non-governmental setting.

Participants showed significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, with large effect sizes, indicating that iCBT can be an effective treatment option for anxiety when delivered by trained staff from organizations like the Mental Health Association.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A feasibility open trial of internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy (iCBT) among consumers of a non-governmental mental health organisation with anxiety. Kirkpatrick, T., Manoukian, L., Dear, BF., et al.[2021]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for symptoms of PTSD among public safety personnel: Initial outcomes of an open cohort preference trial of transdiagnostic and disorder-specific therapy. [2023]

2. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Insights into internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for public safety personnel: Exploration of client experiences during and after treatment. [2021]

3. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Initial Outcomes of Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Tailored to Public Safety Personnel: Longitudinal Observational Study. [2021]

4. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Tailored to Spouses and Significant Others of Public Safety Personnel: Formative Evaluation Study. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An open trial of a brief transdiagnostic internet treatment for anxiety and depression. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for young children with obsessive-compulsive disorder: development and initial evaluation of the BIP OCD Junior programme. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A feasibility open trial of internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy (iCBT) among consumers of a non-governmental mental health organisation with anxiety. [2021]