The main objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of an Internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program in reducing anxiety symptoms.
The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness and level of acceptability of an Internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program in reducing symptoms of anxiety. The effectiveness of the intervention will be compared with a wait-list control group using a randomized control trial (RCT) design. The participants with high / clinical levels of anxiety from the active treatment group will have the opportunity to read seven ACT modules and receive personalized feedback for their completed homework assignments. The intervention will be delivered online and participants will have seven weeks to complete the seven modules (we might add one extra week of treatment for all participants in the event they need to compensate the treatment delays accumulated during the previous seven weeks).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
ACT program consists of seven modules that have been adapted for the online environment. Each module is structured like a therapy session with at least two homework assignments.
West University of Timisoara
Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania
Changes in Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)
The ASI was designed to identify fear of somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety due to a belief that these symptoms may be dangerous or harmful. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 64. Low scores are associated with low levels of anxiety sensitivity, while high scores are associated with high levels of anxiety sensitivity.
Time frame: Change from Pre- to Post-Intervention (7 weeks), and Change from Post-intervention (week 7) to Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)
The PSWQ was designed to measure participant's level of generalized anxiety or worry. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 16 to 80. Low scores are associated with low levels of worry, while high scores are associated with high levels of worry.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
The SPIN was designed to measure participant's level of social phobia. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 68. Low scores are associated with low levels of social phobia, while high scores are associated with high levels of social phobia.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)
The YBOCS was designed to measure participant's level of obsessions and compulsions (O\&C). The scale total score rages from 0 to 40. Low scores are associated with low levels of O\&C, while high scores are associated with high levels of O\&C.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Panic Disorder Severity Scale - Self Report (PDSS-SR)
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The PDSS-SR was designed to measure participant's level of panic. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 28. Low scores are associated with low levels of panic, while high scores are associated with high levels of panic.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (PCL-5)
The PCL-5 was designed to measure participant's level of post-traumatic stress. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 80. Low scores are associated with low levels of post-traumatic stress, while high scores are associated with high levels of post-traumatic stress.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
The BDI-II was designed to measure participant's level of depression. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 63. Low scores are associated with low levels of depression, while high scores are associated with high levels of depression.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS)
The OASIS was designed to measure participant's level of anxiety. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 20. Low scores are associated with low levels of anxiety, while high scores are associated with high levels of anxiety.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS)
The ODSIS was designed to measure participant's level of depression. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 20. Low scores are associated with low levels of depression, while high scores are associated with high levels of depression
Time frame: Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)]
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire 2 (AAQ2)
The AAQ2 was designed to measure of ACT's model of mental health and behavioral effectiveness. Scores range from 7 to 49 points, with high scores indicating greater experiential avoidance and immobility.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)
The MAAS is a 15-item scale designed to assess a core characteristic of dispositional mindfulness. Higher scores reflect higher levels of dispositional mindfulness.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Believability of Anxious Feelings and Thoughts Questionnaire (BAFT)
The BAFT is a 16 item measure of cognitive fusion with anxious thoughts and feelings. Scores range from 16 to 112.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Brief Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BMEAQ)
The 15 item BMEAQ was developed to measure the tendency to avoid negative internal experiences .
Time frame: Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI)
The QOLI assesses an individual's quality of life through self-report of the importance they attach to each of 16 life domains. Each item is rated twice according to a) the importance to the overall happiness and satisfaction (0 = not at all important, 1 = important, 2 = extremely important) and b) satisfaction with the area ( -3 = very dissatisfied to +3 = very satisfied). The QOLI is a unidimensional scale with a continuous score that rages from -6 to +6, with negative score indicating a low life quality and the positive score indicating a high life quality.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)
Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)
The WSAS measures impaired functioning.The maximum score of the WSAS is 40 with lower scores suggesting better functioning.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)