Transdiagnostic Internet-delivered REBT Intervention for Adolescents' Internalizing Problems

NCT04179526 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0861
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 106
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of change of an Internet-delivered transdiagnostic REBT intervention for adolescents with internalizing problems.

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Social Anxiety Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Panic Disorder; Persistent Depressive Disorder; Major Depressive Disorder

Keywords

transdiagnostic; anxiety; depression; REBT; adolescents; Internet intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Internalizing problems measured with the Youth Self-Report 11/18 (YSR; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001)

  Change in self-reported internalizing problems from baseline to post-treatment, at 6 months post treatment. Higher scores indicate higher levels of internalizing problems.

  Baseline, Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks), 6-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Automatic Thoughts QuestionnaireShort Version (ATQ-SV; Netemeyer et al., 2002)

  Baseline, Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks), 6-month follow-up

• The child and adolescent scale of irrationality (CASI; Bernard & Cronan, 1999)

  Baseline, Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks), 6-month follow-up

• The Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents, The Revised Version - adolescent version (Kiddo-KINDL; Ravens-Sieberer, & Bullinger, 1998)

  Baseline, Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks), 6-month follow-up

• The Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument (APRI; Parada, 2000)

  Baseline, Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks), 6-month follow-up

• Principal diagnosis based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria

  Baseline, 6-month follow-up

Other Outcomes (3)

• The anxiety subscale from The Beck Youth Inventories™ -Second Edition for Children and Adolescents (Beck, Beck, & Jolly, 2005).

  Baseline, Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks), 6-month follow-up

• The depression subscale from the Beck Youth Inventories™ -Second Edition for Children and Adolescents (Beck et al., 2005)

  Baseline, Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks), 6-month follow-up

• Client Satisfaction Scale

  Immediately after the intervention (an expected average of 6 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Transdiagnostic Internet-delivered REBT

EXPERIMENTAL

Protocol is based on Rational Emotive Therapy (Ellis, 1962, 1994), structured in 8 modules delivered over 6 weeks (Module 1- Introduction and psychoeducation about emotions, Module 2 - Psychoeducation anxiety and depression, Module 3 - Relaxation, Module 4 - Negative patterns of thinking and cognitive restructuring, Module 5 - Problem solving, Module 6 - Exposure and Behavioral activation, Module 7 - Positive emotions and Module 8 - Gaining maintenance)

Behavioral: Transdiagnostic Internet-delivered REBT

Waitlist

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group will complete pre-treatment and post-treatment assessments. After participants in the experimental group complete post-treatment assessment, they will receive the intervention.

Interventions

Transdiagnostic Internet-delivered REBT BEHAVIORAL

The protocol is based on Rational Emotive and Behavioral Therapy (REBT; Ellis, 1962, 1994). The program will consist of 8 modules, delivered online over six weeks.

Transdiagnostic Internet-delivered REBT

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 15 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 12 and 15 years
• A principal diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, or Major Depressive Disorder as defined by DSM-5 (APA, 2013)
• Not currently following another treatment (psychotherapy, pharmacological treatment);
• Internet access
• Ability to read and write Romanian

You may not qualify if:

• Suicidal ideation
• Severe depression
• Any physical and mental health acute problem that requires hospitalization
• Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, psychosis, bipolar disorder or mental disability

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Babes-Bolyai University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Babeș-Bolyai University

Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, 400015, Romania

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Dobrean A, Poetar CR, Florean IS, Balan R, Andersson G. Transdiagnostic Internet-delivered intervention for children and adolescents with anxiety and depressive disorders: a randomized controlled trial. NPJ Digit Med. 2026 Jan 16. doi: 10.1038/s41746-026-02341-x. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41545507 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Phobia, Social; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Panic Disorder; Depressive Disorder, Major; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Phobic Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Anca Dobrean, Ph.D.

  Babeș-Bolyai University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2019
• First Posted: November 27, 2019
• Study Start: January 25, 2020
• Primary Completion: May 30, 2022
• Study Completion: December 30, 2022
• Last Updated: September 13, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

RO (1)