Online Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills course for adults
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Self-guided Internet-delivered Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intervention for Adults With Mental Health Challenges
This project will test whether an online DBT skills course is usable and acceptable for adults in Ontario with mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Windsor Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Windsor, Ontario) |
| Trial ID | NCT07088939 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants will enroll from Ontario and complete a co-developed, internet-delivered DBT skills course delivered by the University of Windsor team. Feasibility and acceptability will be measured by enrollment, retention, engagement metrics, and participant feedback, while symptom measures for depression and anxiety will be collected before and after the course to explore potential benefit. People with acute psychiatric risk or who are currently receiving psychotherapy are excluded. The trial is a single-site, interventional feasibility pilot run through University of Windsor and conducted in English online.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) living in Ontario who are fluent in English, have at least mild depression or anxiety, can consent, are not currently receiving psychotherapy, and have internet access are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with acute psychiatric risks (e.g., frequent suicidal ideation, recent psychiatric hospitalization), those already in psychotherapy, without internet access, or living outside Ontario are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide an accessible online DBT skills program to help adults with depression or anxiety learn coping skills and reduce symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Previous internet-delivered DBT skills programs have shown promising initial results with moderate retention and improvements in symptoms, but digital DBT remains less extensively studied than in-person formats.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 18 years old and up. * Reside in Ontario. * Fluent in English. * Able to provide autonomous informed consent * Reports at least mild depression and/or anxiety symptoms * Not currently receiving any psychotherapy or psychosocial interventions. * Have access to the internet Exclusion Criteria: * Practical (e.g., scheduling), acute psychiatric (e.g., suicidal ideation nearly every day, recent hospitalization for mental health reasons), or medical reasons (e.g., upcoming surgery, medical procedure, head injury). * Not meeting one or more of the above inclusion criteria
Where this trial is running
Windsor, Ontario
- University of Windsor — Windsor, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alexander Daros, Ph.D., C.Psych.
- Email: alexd1@uwindsor.ca
- Phone: 519-253-3000
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.