Supporting People Who Have Lost a Close Person by Bereavement or Separation: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Digital Health
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Internet-based interventions (IBIs) show efficacy comparable to face-to-face therapy for various mental health disorders, including complicated grief.
• While guided IBIs are effective, recent findings suggest reduced benefit from guidance in interactive IBIs, supporting a 'guidance on demand' approach.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has increased grief symptoms, highlighting the need for accessible digital interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and adherence rates of two internet-based interventions (IBIs) for grief-related symptoms: LIVIA 1 (control) and LIVIA 2.0 (experimental).
• To test the hypotheses that LIVIA 2.0 will enhance well-being, reduce distress more than LIVIA 1, and have lower dropout rates.
• To investigate the impact of a 'guidance on demand' framework within LIVIA 2.0 on intervention outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial will recruit 234 participants experiencing grief due to loss of a loved one or romantic separation.
• Primary outcomes include grief symptoms, depressive symptoms, and eudemonic well-being, assessed at pretest, 12-week posttest, and 24-week follow-up.
• Secondary outcomes encompass anxiety, coping strategies, self-identity reorganization, and program satisfaction, with weekly monitoring for LIVIA 2.0 participants.

Main Results:

• The content for LIVIA 2.0 has been developed and finalized.
• Participant recruitment is scheduled from May 2022 to January 2023.

Conclusions:

• The study will highlight innovations in LIVIA 2.0 for improving IBI efficacy and reducing dropout rates in grief interventions.
• Findings will inform the demand for guidance in digital mental health tools.
• Assessing and developing IBIs for grief is crucial in the post-pandemic era due to increased prevalence of grief symptoms.