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Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for students with psychological distress
ISRCTN ISRCTN11928453
DOI 10.1186/ISRCTN11928453
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
EudraCT number
Public title Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for students with psychological distress
Scientific title Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for students with psychological distress: evaluation in a randomized controlled trial
Acronym N/A
Serial number at source N/A
Study hypothesis It is hypothesised that the group-course based on acceptance and commitment therapy for students shows superior effects in reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and in increasing psychological flexibility, mindfulness and positive mental health compared to a waiting list.
Lay summary Background and study aims:
Many students suffer from psychological distress and most of them do not seek help. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of the group course, called “Getting more out of your life" for college students with psychological distress. The secondary objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this course on positive mental health, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility.

Who can participate?
Students with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression symptoms, male or female aged over 17 years.

What does the study involve?
The participants were randomly allocated to one of the following groups:
1. Experimental condition: the group course "Getting more out of your life". The course is provided by universities and a mental health institution.
2. Control condition: The participants are on a waiting list for three months. After the waiting period they receive the same group course as the experimental condition.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit by an improvement in their mental health. We do not expect many risks associated with participation and no side effects. Participants are allowed to seek for help elsewhere and they can stop all times with the study and/or group course.

Where is the study run from?
University of Twente (Lead Centre)
Saxion University Deventer
Saxion University Enschede
University Zeeland
Indigo Nijmegen

When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study is started in September 2011 and ended in November 2012. Participants were recruited for one month.

Who is funding the study?
Fund NutsOhra, The Netherlands

Who is the main contact?
Dr. Martine Fledderus
m.fledderus@utwente.nl
Ethics approval Dutch Medical-Ethical Review Board for Mental Health Care Institutes (METIGG), 10 May 2011, ref: 11.122
Study design A randomized controlled multi-centre trial with a waiting list as a control group
Countries of recruitment Netherlands
Disease/condition/study domain Depression, anxiety
Participants - inclusion criteria The participants are students from the university with psychological distress (> 10 on the CES-D and > 3 on the HADS-A).
Participants - exclusion criteria 1. The presence of a mood disorder according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)-PLUS. People with severe mood disorder are refered to the general practitioner
2. The presence of mild to high suicide risk according to the MINI-Plus
3. No psychological distress (< 10 on the CES-D or < 3 on the HADS-A)
4. Started three months ago with medication for psychological distress
5. Receiving an treatment for psychological distress
6. Trouble with the Dutch language (reading or learning difficulties)
Anticipated start date 01/09/2011
Anticipated end date 01/11/2012
Status of trial Completed
Patient information material Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Target number of participants 80
Interventions The intervention is called “Getting more out of your life” and is based on ACT and augmented with mindfulness exercises. The intervention consists of four three-hour group-sessions. The first three sessions are weekly and there are two weeks between the third and last session, in total the intervention lasts for five weeks. The intervention is provided by clinical therapists with ample experience in ACT and mindfulness.
Primary outcome measure(s) Depression (Center of Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale) is assessed at basline, five weeks after baseline, 3 months after baseline and, 9 months after baseline (only experimental group), and 12 months after baseline (only control group).
Secondary outcome measure(s) 1. Anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale), psychological flexibility (AAQ-II)
2. Mindfulness (FFMQ-SF)
3. Positive mental health (Mental Health Continuum- Short Form ) are assessed at basline, five weeks after baseline, 3 months after baseline and, 9 months after baseline (only experimental group), and 12 months after baseline (only control group).
Sources of funding Fund NutsOhra (Netherlands)
Trial website
Publications
Contact name Dr  Martine  Fledderus
  Address University of Twente
Drienerlolaan 5
  City/town Enschede
  Zip/Postcode 7522 NB
  Country Netherlands
  Tel +31 534896098
  Email m.fledderus@utwente.nl
Sponsor Fund NutsOhra (Netherlands)
  Address Amstelplein 6
  City/town Amsterdam
  Zip/Postcode 1096 BC
  Country Netherlands
  Email info@fondsnutsohra.nl
  Sponsor website: http://www.fondsnutsohra.nl/
Date applied 19/09/2012
Last edited 11/12/2012
Date ISRCTN assigned 11/12/2012
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