Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trial
Background: Adjustment Disorder (AjD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed mental disorders worldwide. However, there is still no treatment of choice for this problem. One of the first treatment programs specifically designed for AjD is the one presented in this study, a CBT protocol that uses Vi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2022.937606/full |
| _version_ | 1811178531724460032 |
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| author | Soledad Quero Soledad Quero Amanda Díaz-García Sara Fernández-Buendía Mar Molés Cintia Tur Diana Castilla Pim Cuijpers Cristina Botella Cristina Botella |
| author_facet | Soledad Quero Soledad Quero Amanda Díaz-García Sara Fernández-Buendía Mar Molés Cintia Tur Diana Castilla Pim Cuijpers Cristina Botella Cristina Botella |
| author_sort | Soledad Quero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Adjustment Disorder (AjD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed mental disorders worldwide. However, there is still no treatment of choice for this problem. One of the first treatment programs specifically designed for AjD is the one presented in this study, a CBT protocol that uses Virtual Reality (VR) to improve patients’ adherence. Another key aspect to improve treatment outcomes is the use of between-sessions homework. However, little is known about how to increase patient engagement with these tasks. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can help patients to see homework as less demanding and provides greater flexibility. A previous study tested the feasibility of TEO (Online Emotional Therapy), a program to implement online homework during treatment. The aim of this study is to present session-to-session efficacy data from the homework assignment component and the patients’ preferences and opinions about this component in both formats (Traditional vs. TEO).Methods: A two-arm pilot randomised clinical trial (RCT) was conducted with 57 patients with AjD. The two groups received the same CBT intervention with VR support, but one group completed homework in the traditional way and the other using TEO. Mood, self-efficacy and positive and negative emotions were measured to test the effect of the homework component in each treatment session. Preferences about the homework format were also assessed before and after treatment.Results: Both types of administration produced significant improvements in mood, self-efficacy and emotional variables after completion of the homework component and before and after each homework session. Effect sizes ranged from small to large, with no differences between groups. Regarding the acceptability of the program, most participants preferred the TEO condition both before starting the treatment and after completing the homework assignment. Overall, participants were satisfied with all homework sessions and found them useful. Again, no significant differences were found between groups.Conclusion: This is the first time that the effect of an online homework program during AjD treatment has been tested. It is proposed that this way of implementing homework could be as effective as the traditional format, but would be preferred by patients.Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02452411 |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:19:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b28f70879495414498dc8a852002b397 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4192 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:19:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
| spelling | doaj.art-b28f70879495414498dc8a852002b3972022-12-22T04:40:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Virtual Reality2673-41922022-12-01310.3389/frvir.2022.937606937606Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trialSoledad Quero0Soledad Quero1Amanda Díaz-García2Sara Fernández-Buendía3Mar Molés4Cintia Tur5Diana Castilla6Pim Cuijpers7Cristina Botella8Cristina Botella9Department of Basic, Clinical Psychology, and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, SpainCIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Madrid, SpainDepartment of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Teruel, SpainDepartment of Basic, Clinical Psychology, and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, SpainDepartment of Basic, Clinical Psychology, and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, SpainDepartment of Basic, Clinical Psychology, and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, SpainDepartment of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Universitat de València, Valencia, SpainDepartment of Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Basic, Clinical Psychology, and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, SpainCIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Madrid, SpainBackground: Adjustment Disorder (AjD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed mental disorders worldwide. However, there is still no treatment of choice for this problem. One of the first treatment programs specifically designed for AjD is the one presented in this study, a CBT protocol that uses Virtual Reality (VR) to improve patients’ adherence. Another key aspect to improve treatment outcomes is the use of between-sessions homework. However, little is known about how to increase patient engagement with these tasks. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can help patients to see homework as less demanding and provides greater flexibility. A previous study tested the feasibility of TEO (Online Emotional Therapy), a program to implement online homework during treatment. The aim of this study is to present session-to-session efficacy data from the homework assignment component and the patients’ preferences and opinions about this component in both formats (Traditional vs. TEO).Methods: A two-arm pilot randomised clinical trial (RCT) was conducted with 57 patients with AjD. The two groups received the same CBT intervention with VR support, but one group completed homework in the traditional way and the other using TEO. Mood, self-efficacy and positive and negative emotions were measured to test the effect of the homework component in each treatment session. Preferences about the homework format were also assessed before and after treatment.Results: Both types of administration produced significant improvements in mood, self-efficacy and emotional variables after completion of the homework component and before and after each homework session. Effect sizes ranged from small to large, with no differences between groups. Regarding the acceptability of the program, most participants preferred the TEO condition both before starting the treatment and after completing the homework assignment. Overall, participants were satisfied with all homework sessions and found them useful. Again, no significant differences were found between groups.Conclusion: This is the first time that the effect of an online homework program during AjD treatment has been tested. It is proposed that this way of implementing homework could be as effective as the traditional format, but would be preferred by patients.Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02452411https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2022.937606/fulladjustment disorderbetween-session homeworkinternet-based therapyCBTvirtual realityefficacy |
| spellingShingle | Soledad Quero Soledad Quero Amanda Díaz-García Sara Fernández-Buendía Mar Molés Cintia Tur Diana Castilla Pim Cuijpers Cristina Botella Cristina Botella Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trial Frontiers in Virtual Reality adjustment disorder between-session homework internet-based therapy CBT virtual reality efficacy |
| title | Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trial |
| title_full | Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trial |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trial |
| title_short | Efficacy of a between-session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders: Results from a pilot randomized clinical trial |
| title_sort | efficacy of a between session homework component delivered digitally for the treatment of adjustment disorders results from a pilot randomized clinical trial |
| topic | adjustment disorder between-session homework internet-based therapy CBT virtual reality efficacy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2022.937606/full |
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