Online therapy for youth mental health issues

Online Therapy Youth, Equivalent to Treatment As Usual?

Not applicable Interventional GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord · NCT06617663

This study is testing if online therapy using video calls can help young people aged 12-18 with mental health issues like depression and anxiety feel better, as a possible alternative to in-person sessions.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment172 (estimated)
Ages12 Years to 18 Years
SexAll
SponsorGGZ Noord-Holland-Noord Academic / other
Locations1 site (Alkmaar, North Holland)
Trial IDNCT06617663 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of fully online treatment for youth aged 12-18 with mental health conditions such as depression, trauma, and anxiety. It utilizes two established interventions, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), delivered via video calls. The aim is to determine if this online approach can serve as a viable alternative to traditional in-person therapy, especially in light of increasing waiting lists and resource shortages in specialized youth mental health care. By assessing the outcomes of online treatment, the study seeks to clarify its potential benefits and effectiveness compared to conventional methods.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 12-18 who are stable and would benefit from ACT or EMDR therapy.

Not a fit: Patients who are crisis-prone or currently in forced care may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve access to mental health care for youth, reducing waiting times and stigma associated with seeking help.

How similar studies have performed: While online treatment has been researched in blended forms, this study aims to explore its effectiveness as a complete replacement for in-person therapy, making it a novel investigation.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adolescents aged 12-18 years who would benefit from ACT or EMDR within the SGGZ, as determined by the screeners at registration or current primary practitioner.
* Client is stable, i.e. there is no serious crisis (to be determined by screener cq primary practitioner)
* Sufficient command of the Dutch language to complete the questionnaires.
* Client does not participate in other (intervention) studies

Exclusion Criteria:

* Clients who are crisis-prone or enter in crisis
* Clients who are in forced care (wvggz)

Where this trial is running

Alkmaar, North Holland

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions DepressionTraumaCompulsive DisorderAnxietyUnexplained Symptom, MedicallyEMDR interventionACT internventionyouth 12.18
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.