Tailored internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals experiencing psychological distress associated with climate change: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Behav Res Ther. 2023 Nov 15;171:104438. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104438. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTEven among people who are not directly impacted by the consequences of climate change, perceptions about the ongoing crisis can have a negative effect on mental health and well-being. However, empirical evidence on interventions aiming to provide support is currently scarce. In order to address this issue, a pilot-RCT was carried out to investigate the effects of a novel ICBT treatment program. Sixty participants (23-73 years) were recruited and randomly allocated to eight weeks of therapist-supported ICBT (n = 30) or a wait-list control condition (n = 30). Measures of depressive symptoms, stress, and quality of life were used as primary outcomes, while measures of anxiety, insomnia, climate change-related distress, pro-environmental behaviour, and alcohol use were used as secondary outcomes. The treatment group had moderate to large between-group effects compared to the waitlist group on measures of depression (d = 0.87), stress (d = 0.76), quality of life (d = 0.79) and climate change-related distress (d = 0.79). There were no significant between-group differences on the other outcome measures. The results from this pilot-RCT indicate that individually tailored ICBT can be an effective way to reduce psychological distress associated with climate change without reducing pro-environmental behaviour.PMID:38006766 | DOI:10.1016/j.brat.2023.104438
Source: Behaviour Research and Therapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Source Type: research