Examining the Effectiveness of Wysa for Worry Program
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test for the effectiveness of Wysa's Worry computerized cognitive behaviour therapy (cCBT) program (a digital mental health intervention) in comparison to a digital app that offers psychoeducation to patients who have mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
People dealing with worry can receive augmented support from digital mental health interventions. The intervention being tested in this study is Wysa's Worry cCBT program. Its outcomes will be compared to a randomized, controlled arm that offers psychoeducation.
For the purpose of this study participants will be recruited through different online channels and will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Regardless of their assignment they will be completing weekly standardized assessments examining their symptoms of anxiety and depression, and examining any improvement.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Active Intervention
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Behavioral: Wysa for Worry
The Wysa for Worry cCBT program is a week-based cCBT programme consisting of specialised cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) interventions delivered through a conversational agent.
Each week of the programme focuses on a different CBT technique or intervention, which is explained in a short weekly video. Following each video, the technique or intervention is discussed and practiced with Wysa's AI chatbot.
|
| Active Comparator: Control arm
|
Behavioral: App-based Psychoeducation
The control will include the weekly delivery of active psychoeducational resources.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in scores of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) [Baseline, Weekly assessments for 7 weeks, Post intervention assessment (one month after the participant finishes the intervention)]
GAD-7 is a 7 item assessment that screens for anxiety and assesses the severity of anxiety symptoms.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change in scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) [Baseline, Weekly assessments for 7 weeks, Post intervention assessment (one month after the participant finishes the intervention)]
PHQ-9 is a 9 item assessment that screens for depressive symptoms and assesses the severity of the depressive symptoms.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
The inclusion criteria for the study is as follows:
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Patients who are at least 18 years of age.
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Patients who have mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety (scores: 5-15, according to GAD-7).
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Patients who are not already engaged in psychological therapy and not intending to start psychological therapy in the next eight weeks.
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Patients who haven't used any DMHI (Digital Mental Health Interventions) in the last 6 months.
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Patients without risk of suicidal ideation and behaviour.
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Patients who are capable of reading and understanding English and have provided written or verbal informed consent to participate.
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Patients who own and use a smartphone with functional audio.
Exclusion Criteria:
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Patients who are at an increased risk of suicide.
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Patients with diagnosis of or receiving treatment for alcohol/substance use disorder.
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Patients who've had their psychiatric medication or dose changed in the last 1 month.
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Patients who suffer from severe anxiety
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Patients with diagnosis of or receiving treatment for an active state of psychosis.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
No locations specified.Sponsors and Collaborators
- Wysa
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.
- Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lowe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.
- Wysa_RCT_01