Internet-based indicated prevention of anxiety and depression disorder onset three-arm randomized clinical trial
Zarski AC, Weisel K, Berger T, Krieger T, Schaub MP, Berking M, Görlich D, Jacobi C, Baños R, Botella C, Herrero R, Ebert DD (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Journal
Book Volume: 8
Article Number: 589
Journal Issue: 1
DOI: 10.1038/s41746-025-01990-8
Abstract
Preventing mental disorders is important to avoiding clinical conditions. This study evaluated the efficacy of internet-based indicated prevention for anxiety and depressive disorders. In a three-arm randomized controlled trial, 566 adults with subthreshold anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 5) and/or depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16), but no clinical diagnosis in the past six months (MINI 6.0), were assigned to either an individually (IG-IMI, n = 186) or automatically (AG-IMI, n = 189) guided digital intervention, or waitlist control (WLC, n = 191). The digital intervention comprised 8 transdiagnostic, self-tailored, CBT-based sessions. The primary outcome was time to onset of any anxiety or depressive disorder over 12 months, assessed via blinded diagnostic interviews (MINI). AD/DD onset was 19.4% in IG-IMI, 14.8% in AG-IMI, and 30.9% in WLC. Cumulative incidence was 23.1% (IG-IMI), 20.7% (AG-IMI), and 36.0% (WLC; p < 0.001). Hazard ratios were 0.59 and 0.47; NNTs were 7.76 and 5.79. Both individually guided and automated interventions effectively reduced AD/DD incidence. Trial Registration: The study was preregistered in the German Clinical Trial Registration (DRKS00011099; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00011099).
Authors with CRIS profile
Kiona Weisel
Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie (KliPs)
Matthias Berking
Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie (KliPs)
Involved external institutions
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
Universität Bern
Switzerland (CH)
University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH)
Switzerland (CH)
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
University of València / Universitat de València
Spain (ES)
Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition / Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn)
Spain (ES)
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Universität Bern
Switzerland (CH)
University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH)
Switzerland (CH)
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
University of València / Universitat de València
Spain (ES)
Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition / Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn)
Spain (ES)
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. (2025). Internet-based indicated prevention of anxiety and depression disorder onset three-arm randomized clinical trial. npj Digital Medicine, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01990-8
MLA:
Zarski, Anna Carlotta, et al. "Internet-based indicated prevention of anxiety and depression disorder onset three-arm randomized clinical trial." npj Digital Medicine 8.1 (2025).
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