Use of tailoring features and reasons for dropout in a guided internet-based transdiagnostic individually-tailored cognitive behavioral therapy for symptoms of depression and/or anxiety in college students

Marketa Ciharova; Pim Cuijpers; Yagmur Amanvermez; Heleen Riper; Anke M. Klein; Felix Bolinski; Leonore M. de Wit; Claudia M. van der Heijde; Ronny Bruffaerts; Sascha Struijs; Reinout W. Wiers; Eirini Karyotaki

Internet Interventions (Dec 2023)

Use of tailoring features and reasons for dropout in a guided internet-based transdiagnostic individually-tailored cognitive behavioral therapy for symptoms of depression and/or anxiety in college students

Marketa Ciharova,
Pim Cuijpers,
Yagmur Amanvermez,
Heleen Riper,
Anke M. Klein,
Felix Bolinski,
Leonore M. de Wit,
Claudia M. van der Heijde,
Ronny Bruffaerts,
Sascha Struijs,
Reinout W. Wiers,
Eirini Karyotaki

Affiliations

Marketa Ciharova: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding author at: Section Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Pim Cuijpers: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland; Babeș-Bolyai University, International Institute for Psychotherapy, No.37, Republicii Street 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Yagmur Amanvermez: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Heleen Riper: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland; Research Unit for Telepsychiatry and e-Mental Health, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 19,3, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Anke M. Klein: Developmental and Educational Psychology of the Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, the Netherlands; Addiction, Development, and Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1001NK Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Felix Bolinski: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Mental Health and Prevention, Trimbos Institute, Da Costakade 45, 3521 VS Utrecht, the Netherlands
Leonore M. de Wit: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Claudia M. van der Heijde: Department of Research, Development and Prevention, Student Health Service, University of Amsterdam, Oude Turfmarkt 151, 1012 GC Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Ronny Bruffaerts: Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, Centre for Public Health Psychiatry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Sascha Struijs: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Reinout W. Wiers: Addiction, Development, and Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1001NK Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Urban Mental Health, Oude Turfmarkt 145-147, 1012 GC Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Eirini Karyotaki: Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands; WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, BT 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 34
p. 100646

Abstract

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Transdiagnostic individually-tailored digital interventions reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults with moderate effects. However, research into these approaches for college students is scarce and contradicting. In addition, the exact reasons for intervention dropout in this target group are not well known, and the use of individually-tailored intervention features, such as optional modules, has not yet been explored. The current study aimed to (1) investigate reasons for dropout from a guided internet-based transdiagnostic individually-tailored intervention for college students assessed in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and (2) evaluate whether participants used tailoring features intended for their baseline symptoms. A sample of college students with mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety symptoms (n = 48) in the Netherlands (partially) followed a guided internet-based transdiagnostic individually-tailored intervention. We contacted those who did not complete the entire intervention (n = 29) by phone to report the reasons for intervention dropout. Further, we descriptively explored the use of tailoring features (i.e., depression versus anxiety trajectory) and optional modules of the intervention in the whole sample. We identified a range of person- and intervention-related reasons for intervention dropout, most commonly busy schedules, needs for different kinds of help, or absence of personal contact. Furthermore, only less than half of the participants used the individually-tailoring features to address the symptoms they reported as predominant. In conclusion, digital interventions clear about the content and targeted symptoms, tested in user research could prevent dropout and create reasonable expectations of the intervention. Participants would benefit from additional guidance when using tailoring features of digital interventions, as they often do not choose the tailoring features targeting their baseline symptoms.

Published in Internet Interventions

ISSN: 2214-7829 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Technology (General): Industrial engineering. Management engineering: Information technology; Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/internet-interventions/

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