Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Transdiagnostic Internet Intervention for Adolescents with Anxiety and Depressive Disorders (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Transdiagnostic interventions delivered for children and adolescents show promising results. In order to increase access to treatment, recent developments in technology has led to alternatives to face to face interventions. Transdiagnostic Internet interventions can be effective for adult anxiety and depressive disorders, but research is more limited regarding the efficacy of such treatments for young populations diagnosed with anxiety and or depressive disorders. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a transdiagnostic internet intervention for adolescents diagnosed with anxiety and depressive disorders based on Rational emotive behavior therapy. METHODS We tested the preliminary efficacy of a six-week intervention in an open trial, pre-post design including 15 participants. RESULTS Our results suggest that the intervention is feasible and can be included as a treatment for adolescents with anxiety and depressive disorders, being associated with moderate to large pre-post effect sizes on self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as on negative patterns of thinking and knowledge acquisition. Satisfaction with the intervention was high. CONCLUSIONS Transdiagnostic Internet interventions for adolescents with anxiety and depressive symptoms are feasible. Future testing of the efficacy of such interventions in randomized controlled trials should be conducted.

Development and Functionality of an Internet-Based, Self-Managed Parent Training Program

Purpose This research note evaluated a self-managed, Internet intervention (i.e., Success With Stories) designed to facilitate parental reading practices and beliefs. Method Twelve reviewers were composed of parents of young children, speech-language pathologists, and experts in self-managed, Internet intervention. Satisfaction of usability, content, presentation, suitability, and exercises of Success With Stories was examined using an intervention satisfaction rating. Value and usefulness of content was evaluated via a survey. Results Reviewers found content to be valuable and useful for facilitating parental reading practices and beliefs. Results indicated high satisfaction across all reviewers. Conclusion Results point toward strengths and limitations of the protocol and future directions.