Online CBT Intervention for Students With Adjustment Disorder

Effectiveness and Mediators of Change of an Online CBT Intervention for Students With Adjustment Disorder - Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioral intervention based on Unified Protocol and mediators of obtained changes among polish students with adjustment disorder. The intervention is fully self-helped and based on Unified Protocol principles. Control conditions contain of online progressive muscle relaxation group and waiting list.

Adjustment problems are highly prevalent among students around the world (Conley et.al., 2013). Unfortunately only half of students in need receive psychological help (Eisenberg et al., 2018). For these reasons, there is a need to develop and evaluate new, more scalable forms of treatment for students with adjustment disorder - such as internet therapeutic programs. Therefore the aim of the present research is to evaluate the effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioural therapy intervention. Mediators of obtained changes will also be evaluated. The present study has a potential for the development of a scalable, well researched treatment option for students experiencing adjustment disorder - internet psychological intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• having a student status
• 18 years old or older,
• having access to the internet and using computer or smartphone,
• meeting the diagnostic criteria of adjustment disorder based on a total sum score > 47,5 in ADNM-20 questionnaire
• meeting diagnostic criteria for AjD in MINI Interview.

Exclusion Criteria:

• an increased risk of suicidality intent or ideation (at least moderate scores on the MINI and/or a score > 2 on item 9 from the PHQ-9),
• psychotic disorder, eating disorder, anti-social personality disorder and/or alcohol/substance use disorder as indicated by the MINI
• receiving another psychological treatment at the start of the study
• having no time for participation in program
• receiving pharmacological psychiatric treatment not stabilized 6 weeks prior the start of the study