Efficacy of an Internet- and Mobile-Based Intervention for Subclinical Anxiety and Depression (ICare Prevent) with Two Guidance Formats: Results from a Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial
Zarski AC, Weisel K, Berger T, Krieger T, Schaub MP, Berking M, Görlich D, Jacobi C, Ebert DD (2024)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2024
Journal
DOI: 10.1159/000536149
Abstract
Introduction: Limited research exists on intervention efficacy for comorbid subclinical anxiety and depressive disorders, despite their common co-occurrence. Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) are promising to reach individuals facing subclinical symptoms. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a transdiagnostic and self-tailored IMI in reducing subclinical anxiety and depressive symptom severity with either individualized (IG-IMI) or automated (AG-IMI) guidance compared to a waitlist control group with care-as-usual access (WLC). Methods: Participants included 566 adults with subclinical anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 5) and/or depressive (CES-D ≥16) symptoms, who did not meet criteria for a full-syndrome depressive or anxiety disorder. In a three-arm randomized clinical trial, participants were randomized to a cognitive behavioral 7-session IMI plus booster session with IG-IMI (n = 186) or AG-IMI (n = 189) or WLC (n = 191). Primary outcomes included observer-rated anxiety (HAM-A) and depressive (QIDS) symptom severity 8 weeks after randomization assessed by blinded raters via telephone. Follow-up outcomes at 6 and 12 months are reported. Results: Symptom severity was significantly lower with small to medium effects in IG-IMI (anxiety: d = 0.45, depression: d = 0.43) and AG-IMI (anxiety: d = 0.31, depression: d = 0.32) compared to WLC. No significant differences emerged between guidance formats in primary outcomes. There was a significant effect in HAM-A after 6 months favoring AG-IMI. On average, participants completed 85.38% of IG-IMI and 77.38% of AG-IMI. Conclusions: A transdiagnostic, self-tailored IMI can reduce subclinical anxiety and depressive symptom severity, but 12-month long-term effects were absent. Automated guidance holds promise for enhancing the scalability of IMIs in broad prevention initiatives.
Authors with CRIS profile
Kiona Weisel
Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie
Matthias Berking
Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie
Involved external institutions
Universität Bern
Switzerland (CH)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH)
Switzerland (CH)
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Germany (DE)
Switzerland (CH)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH)
Switzerland (CH)
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Zarski, A.C., Weisel, K., Berger, T., Krieger, T., Schaub, M.P., Berking, M.,... Ebert, D.D. (2024). Efficacy of an Internet- and Mobile-Based Intervention for Subclinical Anxiety and Depression (ICare Prevent) with Two Guidance Formats: Results from a Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. https://doi.org/10.1159/000536149
MLA:
Zarski, Anna Carlotta, et al. "Efficacy of an Internet- and Mobile-Based Intervention for Subclinical Anxiety and Depression (ICare Prevent) with Two Guidance Formats: Results from a Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial." Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (2024).
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