ICBT for Psychological Symptoms Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic Remaining After Societal Opening

Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychological Symptoms Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic Remaining After Societal Opening

This study aim to investigate the effects of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) addressing psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences that remain after societal opening. The target group is adults (18 years or older) who still experience psychological symptoms related to the pandemic and the ICBT consists of eight modules during eight week with weekly support by a therapist. ICBT will be compared to a wait-list control condition. Participants will be recruited in Sweden with nationwide recruitment.

The study is a randomized controlled trial about the effects of ICBT regarding psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences remaining after societal opening. Primary outcome measures are depression symptoms (measured with Beck Depression Inventory-II) and anxiety symptoms (measured with Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). Other outcome measures used will for example be about stress symptoms, sleep problems, post traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life.

Because of uncertainties about the psychological effects of COVID-19 pandemic, a transproblematic individually tailored treatment will be used that has been tested in several previous trials and adapted for addressing problems related to the pandemic and its consequences. The study (nor the recruitment within it) has not a focus on whether people have or have not been infected by the COVID-19 virus.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Experience mental health problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic and/or its consecuences, which are still experienced as a problem (when the pandemic is not considered as dangerous to the society)
• 18 years or older
• Adequate ability to speak, read and write in Swedish
• Having access to the internet and a smartphone, computer or other device

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe psychiatric or somatic issues that makes participation harder or impossible (which can include the diagnosis postcovid)
• Ongoing addiction
• Acute suicidality
• Other ongoing psychological treatment
• Recent (within the past 3 months) changes in the dose of psychotropic medication or planned change during the treatment weeks