Ultra-brief digital help while waiting for psychotherapy

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

OPTIBRIEF uses a factorial randomized design to test three components of a digital ultra-brief intervention (UKADO): content focus (problem-focused vs resource-focused), human support (present vs absent), and expectation-fostering elements (present vs absent). After screening questionnaires and a diagnostic telephone interview (Mini-DIPS), participants are randomized into one of eight versions and complete the program in about 60 minutes, with instructions to continue the exercises afterward. Follow-up self-report questionnaires are collected at 2, 5, 9, and 24 weeks, and a subset of participants also completes a telephone interview about their experience. The trial requires internet access and German language skills and excludes people with acute suicidality or those already in or about to start psychotherapy within 14 days after randomization.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Read the patient information and return signed written informed consent sheet
* Currently waiting for outpatient psychotherapy (self-report at baseline and assessed per telephone)
* Age ≥ 18 (self-report at baseline and assessed per telephone)
* Scoring equal to or above 10 on the PHQ-ADS (self-report at baseline)
* Fulfilling diagnostic criteria of one or more of the following disorders assessed with the Diagnostic Short-Interview for Mental Disorders (Mini-DIPS, DSM-5 version; Margraf et al., 2017): Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
* Sufficient German skills (self-report at baseline)
* Access to the internet (self-report at baseline)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acute suicidality assessed during the telephone interview (Mini-DIPS)
* Currently taking part in psychotherapy or a scheduled start of psychotherapy prior to the assessment 14 days post-randomization (assessed via self-report and during the DIPS telephone interview)

Where it's running

• Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern
  Bern, Switzerland Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Laura Luisa Bielinski, PhD — Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherpay, University of Bern
• Study coordinator: Laura Luisa Bielinski, PhD
• Email: laura.bielinski@unibe.ch
• Phone: +41 31 684 39 37

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.