Study on a Digital Ultra-Brief Intervention During Wait Times for Psychotherapy (OPTIBRIEF)

University of Bern

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Depressive Disorders; Anxiety Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Human support; Behavioral: UKADO Content - problem-focused; Behavioral: Expectation fostering elements; Behavioral: UKADO Content - resource-focused

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07167849

HumRes67051 (Registry Identifier)

BASEC2025-00844 (Registry Identifier)

2025-00844

SNCTP000006475 (Registry Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The OPTIBRIEF study investigates different versions of a digital ultra-brief intervention (UKADO - a German acronym for ultra-brief intervention against anxiety and depression online) during the waiting period for psychotherapy. Using a factorial trial design, the components 1) intervention content, 2) human support, and 3) expectation-fostering elements will be examined.

After completing initial questionnaires and participating in a diagnostic interview, participants are randomly assigned to one of eight groups and work through a specific version of UKADO. The program can be completed in a session of approximately 60 minutes, after which the exercises should continue to be used. Participants then complete another set of questionnaires at specific time points (after 2 weeks, 5 weeks, 9 weeks, and 24 weeks). A selection of participants also takes part in another telephone appointment to assess experiences with UKADO.

With the OPTIBRIEF study, the investigators aim to determine which version of the program is most suitable for individuals waiting for a psychotherapy slot. To this end, the investigators examine the effects on anxiety and depression symptom severity, as well as aspects such as participants' experiences with the program.

Enrollment: 312 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Read the patient information and return signed written informed consent sheet
• Currently waiting for outpatient psychotherapy (self-report at baseline and assessed per telephone)
• Age ≥ 18 (self-report at baseline and assessed per telephone)
• Scoring equal to or above 10 on the PHQ-ADS (self-report at baseline)
• Fulfilling diagnostic criteria of one or more of the following disorders assessed with the Diagnostic Short-Interview for Mental Disorders (Mini-DIPS, DSM-5 version; Margraf et al., 2017): Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Sufficient German skills (self-report at baseline)
• Access to the internet (self-report at baseline)

Exclusion criteria

• Acute suicidality assessed during the telephone interview (Mini-DIPS)
• Currently taking part in psychotherapy or a scheduled start of psychotherapy prior to the assessment 14 days post-randomization (assessed via self-report and during the DIPS telephone interview)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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312 participants in 8 patient groups

Problem-focused content

Experimental group

Description:

Problem-focused condition of UKADO without human support or expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: UKADO Content - problem-focused

Problem-focused content and expectation fostering elements

Experimental group

Description:

Problem-focused condition of UKADO without human support but with expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: Expectation fostering elements

Behavioral: UKADO Content - problem-focused

Problem-focused content and human support

Experimental group

Description:

Problem-focused condition of UKADO with human support but no expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: UKADO Content - problem-focused

Behavioral: Human support

Problem-focused content + human support + expectation fostering elements

Experimental group

Description:

Problem-focused condition of UKADO with human support and expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: Expectation fostering elements

Behavioral: UKADO Content - problem-focused

Behavioral: Human support

Resource-focused content

Experimental group

Description:

Resource-focused condition of UKADO without human support and without expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: UKADO Content - resource-focused

Resource-focused content and expectation fostering elements

Experimental group

Description:

Resource-focused condition of UKADO without human support but with expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: UKADO Content - resource-focused

Behavioral: Expectation fostering elements

Resource-focused content and human support

Experimental group

Description:

Resource-focused condition of UKADO with human support but without expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: UKADO Content - resource-focused

Behavioral: Human support

Resource-focused content + human support + expectation fostering elements

Experimental group

Description:

Resource-focused condition of UKADO with human support and with expectation fostering elements

Treatment:

Behavioral: UKADO Content - resource-focused

Behavioral: Expectation fostering elements

Behavioral: Human support