Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

NCT07334769 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-71395021-020-9865
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 33
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effect of a newly developed religously oriented cognitive behavioral group therapy program on the level of anxiety and well-being in young adults compared to the traditional cognitive behavioral therapy-based program. Hypoteses 1 Religiously oriented CBT group therapy will be more effective in reducing participants' general anxiety levels compared to traditional CBT group therapy and the control group, and this effect will continue in the two-month follow-up measurements. Hypoteses 2 Religiously oriented CBT group therapy will be more effective in increasing participants' levels of well-being compared to traditional CBT group therapy and the control group, and this effect will continue in the two-month follow-up measurements.

Conditions

Anxiety Disorder (Panic Disorder or GAD); Well Being

Keywords

generalized anxiety disorder; group therapy; cognitive behavioral group therapy; well-being

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Anxiety

  The Anxiety Thoughts Inventory (AnTI) is a self-report measure assessing the frequency of anxiety-related thoughts. The total score is calculated by summing item responses, with higher scores indicating greater levels of maladaptive anxious thinking. Lower scores reflect fewer anxiety-related cognitions and improvement over time. Change in scores from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up represents a reduction in anxiety-related thought patterns.

  Baseline (pre-test), immediately post-intervention (post-test), and 2-month follow-up.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Well-being

  Baseline (pre-test), immediately post-intervention (post-test), and 2-month follow-up.

Study Arms (3)

Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group received 10 sessions of online cognitive behavioral group therapy

Behavioral: Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy

Waiting Group

OTHER

There is no intervention for this group

Other: Waiting Group

Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received 10 sessions of online religiously integrated cognitive behavioral group therapy

Behavioral: Religiosly Integrated Cognitive Behavioral GroupTherapy

Interventions

Religiosly Integrated Cognitive Behavioral GroupTherapy BEHAVIORAL

This intervention consists of a structured, group-based, online cognitive behavioral therapy program integrated with participants' spiritual/religious values. The program includes psychoeducation about anxiety, cognitive restructuring, exposure to uncertainty, problem-solving, and behavioral exercises, combined with spiritually framed coping strategies such as meaning-making, patience, gratitude, trust, and values-based reflection. Sessions were delivered weekly in a standardized manualized format by a trained therapist. The intervention aimed to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance psychological well-being.

Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy

Waiting Group OTHER

Participants assigned to the waitlist control group did not receive any active intervention during the study period and were offered the intervention after completion of post-test assessments.

Waiting Group

Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy BEHAVIORAL

his intervention consists of a structured, group-based, online cognitive behavioral therapy program focusing on anxiety management. The program includes psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, graduated exposure to anxiety-provoking situations and intolerance of uncertainty, problem-solving, and behavioral exercises. Sessions were delivered weekly in a standardized, manualized format by a trained therapist, without spiritual or religious content.

Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being between 18 and 45 years of age, Willingness to participate in 10 weekly group sessions, Having a GAD-7 score of 5 or higher, Exhibiting symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5-CV), Having regular access to the internet.

You may not qualify if:

• Currently receiving any form of psychological treatment Having previously undergone long-term psychotherapy Having a primary comorbid psychological disorder other than generalized anxiety disorder, Expressing suicidal ideation, Having completed only primary school education

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ibn Haldun University: lead

Study Sites (1)

İstanbul

Istanbul, Türkiye, 34000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Panic Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Ekinci, PhD Candidate

  Ibn Haldun University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: This study is open-label. Due to the nature of the psychological group interventions, neither participants nor therapists could be blinded to treatment allocation. Outcome measures were based on self-report scales.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Psychologist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 31, 2025
• First Posted: January 12, 2026
• Study Start: February 22, 2024
• Primary Completion: September 9, 2024
• Study Completion: September 21, 2024
• Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: Individual participant data (IPD) will be made available beginning 6 months after publication of the primary study results and will remain available for a period of 5 years.

Locations

TU (1)