Internet-Based Group CBT for Anxiety and Depression Among International Students (DARE Program)

University of Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Status: Begins enrollment in 3 months

Conditions: Depression; Anxiety

Treatments: Behavioral: DARE-Depression and Anxiety Regulation Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07365787

JKEUPM-2025-330

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this RCT trial is to learn if internet-based group cognitive behaviour therapy delivered via the Zoom application works to treat anxiety and depression among international students. It will also learn about the predictive factors of the intervention's effectiveness. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does participating in internet-based GCBT reduce the symptoms of anxiety among international students in Malaysia?
• Does participating in internet-based GCBT reduce the symptoms of depression among international students in Malaysia?

Researchers will compare students who take part in the intervention program with students in a waitlist control group to understand whether the intervention is associated with changes in anxiety and depression symptoms.

Participants will:

• Be randomly assigned to either the intervention program or a waitlist control group
• Attend four sessions of one hour each, including 1) psychoeducation, 2) cognitive techniques, 3) behaviour techniques, and 4) support and relapse prevention. A booster session and a follow-up assessment will be done1 month post intervention.

Enrollment: 128 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• International students.
• 18 and 60 years of age.
• Moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Fluent in the English language.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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128 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental Group

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group will be provided with 4 weeks intervention, one hour each, followed by one booster session at 1 month post-intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: DARE-Depression and Anxiety Regulation Program

Waitlist Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

The waitlist control group will be provided with 4 weeks intervention, one hour each, followed by one booster session at 1 month post-intervention.