A guided Internet-delivered intervention for adjustment disorders: A randomized controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Limited evidence exists for self-help interventions targeting adjustment disorder (AjD).
• Adjustment disorder presents challenges in managing distress and functional impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy (ICBT) intervention for AjD through a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
• To assess the impact of ICBT on AjD symptoms, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic growth, affect, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing ICBT with brief weekly telephone support against a waiting list control group.
• Participants (n=68) were assessed using Beck's inventories for depression and anxiety, AjD symptoms, post-traumatic growth, affect, and quality of life.
• Intervention adherence was high (76.5%), with outcomes measured at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups.

Main Results:

• The ICBT group demonstrated significant improvements across all measured outcomes, including AjD symptoms, depression, post-traumatic growth, affect, and quality of life, compared to the control group.
• Effect sizes (Cohen's d) ranged from 0.54 to 1.21, indicating moderate to large effects, except for anxiety symptoms (d=0.27).
• A higher proportion of participants in the ICBT group achieved clinically meaningful changes, and these gains were sustained long-term.

Conclusions:

• Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy (ICBT) with minimal therapist support is an effective intervention for reducing distress associated with adjustment disorder.
• ICBT offers significant benefits beyond symptom reduction, including enhanced post-traumatic growth and improved quality of life.
• This study provides robust evidence supporting the use of accessible, self-help digital interventions for managing adjustment disorder.