The aim is to assess the effectiveness of online group CBT for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among university students. The investigators will conduct a four-arm randomised control trial comparing a 10-session online group CBT intervention to three mental health apps (namely SilverCloud guided, SilverCloud unguided, and Mood Flow).
Email invitations and information about the study will be sent to random samples of students inviting those with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress to join the trial. Students who express interest will be asked to complete an online consent form (providing more detailed information about the study and explaining potential risks and benefits of participation), following which they will complete a baseline assessment. Students who meet inclusion criteria will then be randomly allocated to one of four interventions. Follow-up assessments will be done at 3-, 6- and 12-months post intervention. The baseline assessment will include measures of depression and anxiety, as well as factors that could potentially predict treatment responses (such as gender, age, substance use, self-harm, adverse childhood experiences, and physical health). Follow-up assessments will include measures of depression and anxiety, as well as substance use, self-harm, and treatment seeking. The primary outcomes will be symptoms of depression and anxiety as measured by the GAD-7 and PHQ-9.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
400
Group of participants complete 10 weeks of Online Group CBT intervention
Group of participants make use of the SilverCloud guided app
Group of participants make use of the SilverCloud Unguided app
Stellenbosch University
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
RECRUITINGChange from baseline scores in the mean symptoms of depression as measured by the PHQ-9 at 3-months.
Determine if a 10-week online group CBT (GCBT) intervention effectively reduces mean scores of depression, between baseline and 3-month follow up, among university students when compared with three control group interventions (i.e., Mood Flow, SilverCloud guided, and SilverCloud unguided).
Time frame: Baseline and 3-month follow up assessment for experiment and control interventions groups.
Change from baseline scores in the mean symptoms of anxiety as measured by the GAD-7 at 3-months.
Determine if a 10-week online group CBT (GCBT) intervention effectively reduces mean scores of anxiety, between baseline and 3-month follow up, among university students when compared with three control group interventions (i.e., Mood Flow, SilverCloud guided, and SilverCloud unguided).
Time frame: Baseline and 3-month follow up assessment for experiment and control interventions groups.
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Group of participants make use of the Mood Flow app