Effectiveness of a Guided Mobile App Intervention for Depression and Anxiety in University Students (PROMES-U Study)

Summary

Background: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are prevalent among Spanish university students. Minimally guided online interventions have shown promise in reducing symptomatology and preventing increased mental distress. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of guided preventive mental health interventions for depression and anxiety in university students.

Methods: two-arm multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT), addressed to undergraduate students from 6 public universities with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Students will be evaluated through an online survey assessing mental health problems, use of mental health services, sociodemographic variables, self-perceived health, childhood and adolescent adversities, recent stressful events, social networks, personality and university experiences. A total of 600 students will be randomly assigned to: intervention group (guided E-health prevention intervention) or control group (treatment as usual with self-monitoring). The intervention, in app format, is based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, includes weekly feedback based on content and participation from a psychologist and self-monitoring. Assessments will take place post-intervention (up to 6 weeks), at 6 months and 12 months after randomization. The primary outcome will be the reduction of depressive or anxiety symptoms post-intervention, assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS). Secondary outcomes of the RCT will be mental wellbeing, academic stress, comorbid symptoms, and adherence. Analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat and per protocol basis.

Discussion: The results of the PROMES-U RCT will provide valuable information on a guided preventive online intervention that could be delivered in the campus context. In addition, results will provide information on the positive impact of the intervention on other relevant factors involved in mental health among university students.

Conditions

• Depressive Symptoms
• Anxiety

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

MyMoodCoach

The MyMoodCoach prevention intervention is an evidence-based online intervention based on cognitive-behavioral therapy principles such as behavioral activation, problem solving and challenging negative thoughts.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM)

  collaborator OTHER

• Universitat Jaume I

  collaborator OTHER

• Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche

  collaborator OTHER

• Universitat Pompeu Fabra

  collaborator OTHER

• Universidad de Zaragoza

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Malaga

  collaborator OTHER

• Instituto de Salud Carlos III

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of the Balearic Islands

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jordi Alonso · Hospital de Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-10-25

Primary Completion

2025-11-30

Completion

2025-11-30

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations