Primary Objective: -To study if an online individual brief CBT (group A) intervention is effective for psychological distress (anxiety and depression) compared to a CAU group in patients with PCOS at 3 and 6 months relative to baseline. Secondary Objective(s): 1. To study if an online group based brief CBT (group B) is more effective for anxiety and depression compared to CAU in patients with PCOS at 3 and 6 months relative to baseline. 2. To determine if an online individual brief CBT (group A) is effective for improvements in QoL, coping strategies, body image and sleep quality compared to CAU in patients with PCOS at 3 and 6 months relative to baseline. 3. To determine if an group based brief CBT (group B) is more effective for improvements in QoL, coping strategies, body image and sleep quality compared to CAU in patients with PCOS at 3 and 6 months relative to baseline. 4. If A and B are effective compared to CAU, we will compare online individual brief CBT (group A) to online group based brief CBT (group B) for anxiety and depression, QoL, coping strategies, body image and sleep quality compared to in patients with PCOS at 3 and 6 months relative to baseline.
The online brief CBT intervention is designed to address three problems that have often been reported in women with PCOS. Therefore, the program contains three themes: Psychoeducation about PCOS; traditional CBT and problem-solving therapy. Participants are randomized into one of three groups: 1. individual treatment (A) 2. group treatment (B) 3. care as usual (CAU) Treatment A and B include 5 sessions divided over a period of 3 months: Week 1: Session 1 +homework assignments Week 3: Session 2 +homework assignments Week 5: Session 3 +homework assignments Week 8: Session 4 +homework assignments Week 12: Session 5 +homework assignments The CAU group receives standard treatment for depressive symptoms from their general practitioner (GP).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
222
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Erasmus MC
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Depression
Changes in depression scores as assessed by the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). HADS is a 14-item scale with seven items each for anxiety and depression subscales. Scoring for each item ranges from zero to three. A subscale score \>8 denotes anxiety or depression. A higher score indicates higher distress.
Time frame: at start, after 3 and 6 months
Anxiety
Changes in anxiety scores as assessed by the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). HADS is a 14-item scale with seven items each for anxiety and depression subscales. Scoring for each item ranges from zero to three. A subscale score \>8 denotes anxiety or depression. A higher score indicates higher distress.
Time frame: at start, after 3 and 6 months
QoL
The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life scale (PCOSQOL). The PCOSQOL is a 35-item questionnaire with four subscales: Impact of PCOS, Infertility, Hirsutism and Mood. Lower scores represent a decreased QoL.
Time frame: at start, after 3 and 6 months
Coping
Coping Inventory for stressful situation (CISS). Scores for all items per scale are summed to form scale scores; higher scores indicate a greater use of that particular coping strategy.
Time frame: at start, after 3 and 6 months
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