scholarly journals Mobile app for prolonged grief among bereaved parents: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e052763
Author(s):  
Rakel Eklund ◽  
Maarten C Eisma ◽  
Paul A Boelen ◽  
Filip K Arnberg ◽  
Josefin Sveen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Bereaved Parents ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

IntroductionBereaved parents, who have lost a child, have an elevated risk to develop mental health problems, yet, few studies have evaluated the effect of psychosocial interventions developed for bereaved parents. Cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT), both face to face or digitally delivered, has shown to be an effective intervention for prolonged grief symptoms. Self-help mobile apps offer various advantages and studies show improved mental health after app interventions. No app has yet been evaluated targeting prolonged grief in bereaved parents. Therefore, the aim of this planned study is to develop and examine the effectiveness of a CBT-based mobile app, called My Grief, in reducing symptoms of prolonged grief, as well as other psychological symptoms, in bereaved parents. Another aim is to assess users’ experiences and adverse events of My Grief.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a two-armed randomised waitlist-controlled trial. Parents living in Sweden, who lost a child between one and ten years ago, with elevated symptoms of prolonged grief, will be recruited to participate in the trial. The content of My Grief covers four main domains (Learn; Self-monitoring; Exercises; Get support) and builds on principles of CBT and the proven-effective PTSD Coach app. Participants in the intervention group will fill out online questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-ups, and the waitlist-controls at baseline and at 3 months. The primary outcome will be prolonged grief symptoms at the 3 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes are post-traumatic stress and depression symptoms, quality of life and cognitive behavioural variables (ie, avoidance, rumination, negative cognitions).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been received from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (project no. 2021-00770). If the app is shown to be effective, the app will be made publicly accessible on app stores, so that it can benefit other bereaved parents.Trial registration numberNCT04552717.

scholarly journals A Mobile App for Prolonged Grief among Bereaved Parents: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakel Eklund ◽  
Maarten Eisma ◽  
Paul Boelen ◽  
Filip Arnberg ◽  
Josefin Sveen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Bereaved Parents

Introduction: Bereaved parents have elevated risk to develop mental health problems, yet, few studies have evaluated the effect of psychosocial interventions developed for bereaved parents. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), both face-to-face or digitally delivered, has shown to be an effective intervention for prolonged grief symptoms. Self-help mobile apps offer various advantages and studies show improved mental health after app interventions. No app has yet been evaluated targeting prolonged grief in bereaved parents. Therefore, the aim of this planned study is to develop and examine the effectiveness of a CBT-based mobile app, called My Grief, in reducing symptoms of prolonged grief, as well as other psychological symptoms, in bereaved parents. Another aim is to assess users experiences and adverse events of My Grief. Methods and analysis: We will conduct a two-armed randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Parents living in Sweden, who lost a child to cancer between one and ten years ago, with elevated symptoms of prolonged grief, will be recruited to participate in the trial. The content of My Grief covers four main domains (Learn: Self-monitoring: Exercises: Get support) and builds on principles of CBT and the proven-effective PTSD Coach app. Participants in the intervention group will fill out online questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12-months follow-ups, and the waitlist-controls at baseline and at 3 months. The primary outcome will be prolonged grief symptoms at the 3 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes are posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms, quality of life, and cognitive behavioral variables (i.e., avoidance, rumination, negative cognitions). Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been received from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (project no. 2021-00770). If the app is shown to be effective, the app will be made publicly accessible on app stores, so that it can benefit other bereaved parents. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04552717.

scholarly journals The Effect of Physiotherapy Group Intervention in Reducing Pain Disorders and Mental Health Symptoms among Syrian Refugees: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9468
Author(s):  
Wegdan Hasha ◽  
Jannicke Igland ◽  
Lars T. Fadnes ◽  
Bernadette Kumar ◽  
Jasmin Haj-Younes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
The Impact

Chronic pain is common among refugees, and often related to mental health problems. Its management, however, is often challenging. A randomized waitlist-controlled trial was designed to study the effect of group physiotherapy activity and awareness intervention (PAAI) on reducing pain disorders, and secondarily improving mental health, among Syrian refugees. A total of 101 adult Syrian refugees suffering from chronic pain were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group, which thereafter also received PAAI after a waiting period. Pain intensity measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) was the primary outcome. Scores from the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R 22) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were secondary outcomes. Intention-to-treat analyses (ITT) showed no effect of the intervention on either pain levels (regression coefficient [B {95% CI} of 0.03 {−0.91, 0.96}], IESR scores [4.8 {−3.7, 13.4}] or GHQ-12 scores [−0.4 {−3.1, 2.3}]). Yet, participants highly appreciated the intervention. Despite the negative findings, our study contributes to the evidence base necessary to plan targeted and effective health care services for refugees suffering from chronic pain and highlights the challenge of evaluating complex interventions adapted to a specific group.

The relationship between an electronic mental health stigma campaign and suicidal thoughts and behaviours: a two-arm randomized controlled trial in the Australian construction industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-485
Author(s):  
A Milner ◽  
Z Aitken ◽  
P C F Law ◽  
A D LaMontagne ◽  
C Mann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts

Abstract Males employed in the construction industry are at greater risk of suicide than other employed males. It is plausible that a high level of stigma against mental health problems explains the elevated rates of suicide among this group. This study sought to test the effectiveness of an electronic mental health stigma intervention on suicide ideation, communication about suicide and attempts. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a series of brief contact interventions over a 6-week period or a wait list control. Suicidal ideation, communication about suicide and suicide attempts were assessed using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised at post-intervention. We used linear regression to assess effectiveness at post-intervention, adjusting for relevant covariates using both conventional methods and a propensity score approach. Results indicate that the intervention had no significant impact on suicidal thoughts, communication or suicide attempts. There was some indication that individuals in the intervention group reported a slight increase in attempts and communication about suicide. These observations underscore an urgent need for more research to understand the complex and nuanced relationship between stigma and suicide in non-clinical populations.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of a Media-Based Intervention Promoting Help-Seeking for Mental Health Difficulties By Australian Men: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANGELA NICHOLAS ◽  
Simone Scotti Requena ◽  
Maria Ftanou ◽  
Simon Rice ◽  
Justine Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Media Campaigns ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Approximately one fifth of Australian males aged 16 + experience mood, anxiety or substance use disorders in a given year, and suicide by males accounts for three quarters of all suicides annually. However, males with mental health problems are less likely to seek and receive help than their female counterparts. Media campaigns with videos at their core are gaining popularity as a means of promoting help-seeking for mental health difficulties, but few studies have rigorously tested the impact of such videos. This randomised controlled trial tests the effectiveness of a short video promoting help-seeking by Australian men. Methods This study is an online randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants will attend an online group orientation session, where they will provide consent to participate and complete a baseline questionnaire (T1). After completion of the T1 questionnaire, participants will be randomised to watch either the intervention or control video on a 1:1 basis. After randomisation, participants will be able to access their allocated video for one week. Seven days after T1, participants will again be sent links to the video and to the post-exposure questionnaire (T2). One month after T2, participants will be emailed the follow-up questionnaire (T3). The primary outcome will be change in help-seeking intentions from T1 to T2. Secondary outcomes will be changes in help-seeking intentions from T1 to T3, changes in intentions to encourage other males to seek help, self-reliance, and male depression symptoms from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated. Participants will also complete questions about their opinions of the video and its effects at T2 and T3. Discussion Our video-based intervention is designed to promote help-seeking for mental health difficulties among Australian men. If a lack of net harm is shown to be associated with viewing the intervention video, the video will be publicly released and could have broad impacts on individual and community attitudes towards help-seeking for mental health difficulties, and ultimately enhance men’s mental health and wellbeing. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the intervention is essential to ensure the intervention is achieving its objectives. Trial registration: anzctr.org.au: 2621001008819

scholarly journals Combining online Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) with a parent-training programme for parents with partners suffering from alcohol use disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e020879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Lindner ◽  
Ola Siljeholm ◽  
Magnus Johansson ◽  
Martin Forster ◽  
Sven Andreasson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Parent Training ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethical Review

IntroductionPartners and children of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) present with impaired quality of life and mental health, yet seldom seek or participate in traditional supportive interventions. Engaging the parent/partner without AUD in treatment is a promising way of supporting behavioural change in both the child and the parent with AUD. Universal parent-training (PT) programmes are effective in increasing children’s well-being and decreasing problem behaviours, but have yet to be tailored for children with a parent with AUD. Community Reinforcement Approach And Family Training (CRAFT) programmes are conceptually similar, and aim to promote behavioural change in individuals with AUD by having a concerned significant other change environmental contingencies. There has been no study on whether these two interventions can be combined and tailored for partners of individuals with AUD with common children, and delivered as accessible, online self-help.Methods and analysisn=300 participants with a child showing mental health problems and partner (co-parent) with AUD, but who do not themselves present with AUD, will be recruited from the general public and randomised 1:1 to either a four-module, online combined PT and CRAFT programme or a psychoeducation-only comparison intervention. Primary outcome will be the child’s mental health. Additional outcomes will cover the partner’s drinking, the participants own mental health and drinking, the child’s social adjustment, treatment seeking in all three parties and parental self-efficacy. Measures will be collected preintervention, mid-intervention and postintervention, and three times during a 2-year follow-up period. Data will be analysed using mixed-effects modelling.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Stockholm Regional Ethical Review Board (2016/2179-31). The results will be presented at conferences and published as peer-reviewed publications.Trial registration numberISRCTN38702517; Pre-results.

Effects of the Satir Model on Mental Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 775-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Way Kwok-Wai Lau ◽  
Pamela Pui-Yu Leung ◽  
Catherine Lai-Ping Chung
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: This randomized controlled trial examined the effect of an intensive experiential workshop based on the Satir growth model (SGM) that aims at cultivating self-transformation. Method: Ninety-six adult participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (52 participants) or the wait-list control group. The role of self-transformation, measured by the Perceived Self-Transformation Scale, in the relationship between affects and mental health problems was examined using mediation analyses. Results: After the workshop, the intervention group demonstrated higher levels of self-transformation (η2 = .308, p < .001), as well as significant improvement ( p < .001) in positive (η2 = .557) and negative (η2 = .293) affects, self-esteem (η2 = .538), spirituality (η2 = .473), and mental health problems (η2 = .386). Importantly, increased self-transformation after the workshop partially mediated the relationship between reduced negative affect and mental health problems in the intervention group (indirect effect: β = 0.163, 95% confidence interval [0.035, 0.343]). Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that the SGM-based intervention can be effective in ameliorating mental health problems.

Effect of group-based logotherapy on imprisoned women’s level of hope: a randomized controlled trial (RCT)

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakiye Ghelbash ◽  
Shahrzad Yektatalab ◽  
Marzieh Momennasab ◽  
Zohre Foruhi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Prisoners ◽  
Existential Approach ◽  
Emotional Deprivation

Purpose Female prisoners are a vulnerable group in society, often exposed to emotional deprivation and violent experiences and in need of support and attention due to mental health problems. The purpose of this study is to find out whether logotherapy, as an existential approach that emphasizes finding the true meaning in life, can affect imprisoned women’s level of hope, as well as investigating the relationship between participants’ criminological and demographic factors. Design/methodology/approach This study comprised a clinical trial with pre-test and post-test, carried out in two groups of intervention and control. The research environment for the study was the Prison Training Center of Shiraz. In total, 90 imprisoned women participated in the study, with the intervention group attending 10 sessions of group logotherapy. Two questionnaires, the Miller Hope scale and demographic and criminological information questionnaires were used for assessment. Participants were evaluated in three periods before, immediately after and one month after the intervention. Findings The results showed that logotherapy had a significant effect on increasing the feeling of hopefulness (p = 0.001). Therefore, using the logotherapy approach in other vulnerable groups is recommended. Originality/value This study can be a basis for further research due to limited studies on the mental health of women prisoners in the country.

scholarly journals A smartphone-online intervention for youth diagnosed with major depressive disorders: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Ritvo ◽  
Zafiris Daskalakis ◽  
George Tomlinson ◽  
Arun Ravindran ◽  
Renee Linklater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

BACKGROUND Seventy percent of mental health problems appear before the age of 25 years and when untreated can become long-standing, and significant, impairing multiple life domains (1). Although the problem is especially acute for youth from First Nations backgrounds, all Canadian youth aged 15- to 25 years are highly likely to experience mental health disorders, substance dependencies and suicide. Progress in the treatment of youth that capitalizes on tendencies to respond to online contacts strategically addresses mental health problems, particularly depressive disorders. OBJECTIVE We will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT), to compare online mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy combined with standard psychiatric care vs. psychiatric care alone (wait-list controls) in youth diagnosed with major depressive disorder. We will enrol N = 168 subjects in the age range of 18-30 years, 50% of whom will be from First Nations backgrounds and the other 50% from all other ethnic backgrounds, equally stratified in two intervention groups and two (wait-list) control groups (42 subjects per group, where INT1 and CTL1 are FN background, and INT2 and CTL2 are non-FN background). METHODS In this RCT, the primary outcome will be self-reported depression on the Beck Depression Inventory II. Secondary outcomes include anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), depression (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-24)), pain (Brief Pain Inventory) and mindfulness (Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire). RESULTS Recruitment/retention rates will be assessed with estimates for the proportion of participants with complete data per outcome and time points divided by the total number of study participants. Variability of the main and interaction effects will be examined in the primary clinical outcome and each secondary outcome using separate repeated measures ANCOVA models, with Bonferroni corrections applied to the models applied. Hedges' g and associated confidence intervals will be calculated as an estimate of the effect size both over time (within groups) and between groups. Missing data will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis such that drop-outs will be excluded. CONCLUSIONS If results confirm hypotheses that youth can be effectively treated with online mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy at reduced costs, effective services can be delivered more widely with less geographic restrictions. CLINICALTRIAL Clinical Trials.gov

scholarly journals An App-Based Intervention for Adolescents Exposed to Cyberbullying in Norway: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/31789 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e31789
Author(s):  
Sabine Kaiser ◽  
Monica Martinussen ◽  
Frode Adolfsen ◽  
Kyrre Breivik ◽  
Henriette Kyrrestad
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background Adolescents exposed to negative online events are at high risk to develop mental health problems. Little is known about what is effective for treatment in this group. NettOpp is a new mobile app for adolescents who have been exposed to cyberbullying or negative online experiences in Norway. Objective The aim of this paper is to provide a description of the content of the intervention and about a randomized controlled trial that will be conducted to examine the effectiveness of NettOpp. This protocol is written in accordance with the Spirit 2013 Checklist. Methods An effectiveness study with a follow-up examination after 3 months will be conducted to evaluate the mobile app. Adolescents will be recruited through schools and will be randomly assigned to the intervention (NettOpp) group and a waiting-list control group. The adolescents (aged 11 to 16 years) will respond to self-report questionnaires on the internet. Primary outcomes will be changes in mental health assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the WHO-Five Well-being Index, and the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen. Results Recruitment will start in January 2022. The results from this study will be available in 2023. Conclusions There are few published evaluation studies on app-based interventions. This project and its publications will contribute new knowledge to the field. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04176666; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04176666 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/31789

scholarly journals Is there an app for that? A cluster randomised controlled trial of a mobile app–based mental health intervention

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 1538-1559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Kenny ◽  
Amanda Fitzgerald ◽  
Ricardo Segurado ◽  
Barbara Dooley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Demand for the use of mobile apps in mental health interventions has grown in recent years, particularly among adolescents who experience elevated levels of distress. However, there is a scarcity of evidence for the effectiveness of these tools within this population. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of CopeSmart, a mental health mobile app, using a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial design. Participants were 15–18-years-olds (N = 560) recruited from 10 schools randomly assigned to an intervention or control condition. Intervention participants used the app over a 4-week period. Multi-level modelling analyses revealed no significant changes in the intervention group from pre-test to post-test, when compared to the control group, in terms of emotional distress, well-being, emotional self-awareness or coping strategies. Findings suggest that a 4-week app-based intervention may not be enough to elicit intra-personal changes in mental health outcomes in a general adolescent population.

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