Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety and Depression Amongst French Canadians

Improving Access to Treatment for Anxiety and Depression Among French Canadians Using an Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study represents Phase II of a research program involving an international collaboration with Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) to implement an Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for the treatment of anxiety and depression in French-speaking Canadians from the Atlantic Provinces.

The primary objective is to establish the clinical efficacy of a French-Canadian self-guided format version of the Wellbeing Course by conducting a randomized-control trial where an experimental group will be compared to a waitlist control group. A secondary objective is to demonstrate the course's acceptability through participants' satisfaction with the course.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Residing in New-Brunswick, Nova-Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfound land & Labrador
• Having identified French as the first official language spoken and having good reading comprehension in French.
• Reliable Internet access
• Clinically significant levels of depression or anxiety reflected by significant scores on the following measures: PHQ-9 > 9, GAD-7 >7, Penn Stage Worry Questionnaire ≥ 45, Social Phobia Inventory ≥ 19, Panic and Agoraphobia Scale ≥ 19, or by answering yes to the question "Is anxiety or low mood a problem for you"
• Not currently participating in cognitive-behavioral therapy
• No changes in medication for 4 weeks prior to the study, nor any changes in medication for the next 2 months
• Willing to disclose personal information

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of psychotic symptoms
• Presence of severe depression as indicated by scores ≥ 23 on the PHQ-9, or a score > 2 on item 9 of the PHQ-9