This study comprises the pilot phase of a randomized controlled trial (NCT05085756) that will investigate the feasibility of a transdiagnostic CBT-based treatment for symptoms of depression and anxiety offered to Swedish university students. It will offer treatment to participants who have previously responded to a universal online mental health screen conducted in university setting (WHO-WMH-ICS survey). The pilot study initially has a prospective single-group design where 30 college students with elevated depressive and/or anxiety symptoms are enrolled in 8 weeks of therapist-guided CBT treatment via the Internet. All participants included will receive treatment. Mid-treatment, participants that are judged to be at risk of treatment failure will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to either continued treatment with no change, or to receive added therapist-support intended to enhance outcome. Pilot study outcomes include various aspects of feasibility: participant uptake, self-reported credibility and expectancy, adherence to treatment protocol and assessments, treatment satisfaction, potential adverse events, causes for premature termination of treatment, and procedures for providing additional therapist support to a subsample of participants after mid-treatment. Within-group effects for primary depression and anxiety measures will be quantified. A range of secondary measures are piloted for the subsequent randomized controlled trial. The assessment points for this study: Baseline; 8 points during treatment; post-treatment; 6-month follow-up; 12-month follow-up; 24 month follow up. Note. This study is retrospectively registered; this registration was completed prior to any outcome data-analyses.
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Treatment Credibility and expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ).
Timeframe: Baseline
Working Alliance Inventory - Short (WAI-S)
Timeframe: Mid-treatment (4 weeks)
The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8)
Timeframe: Post-treatment (8 weeks)
Treatment interest/uptake. Measured in terms of % participants who responded to the study invitation
Timeframe: Baseline
Treatment completion/adherence.
Timeframe: Post-treatment (8 weeks)
Assessment completion/adherence.
Timeframe: Post-treatment (8 weeks)
Added therapist support.
Timeframe: Mid-treatment (4 weeks)
Early treatment termination.
Timeframe: Post-treatment (8 weeks)
Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ-20)
Timeframe: Mid-treatment (4 weeks)