Submission
| Title: |
Guided self-help for internalizing distress |
| Co-Authors: |
Lorenzo-Luaces, Lorenzo, Indiana University, Bloomington; Johan Bollen, Indiana University, Bloomington; Jacqueline Howard, Indiana University Bloomington; Robinson De Jesús-Romero, Indiana University-Bloomington; Allison Peipert, Indiana University-Bloomington; John Buss Indiana University Bloomington; Colton Lind Indiana University Bloomington; Kassandra Botts Indiana University Bloomington; Isabella Starvaggi, Indiana University |
Abstract
Background/Significance/Rationale: Doing What Matters in Times of Stress (DWM) is a five-module transdiagnostic guided self-help (GSH) intervention developed by the World Health Organization, originally in a group-based format. In a sample of individuals recruited from across the United States, we conducted an open trial to study the feasibility and acceptability of an adaptation of DWM in which guidance was provided individually and remotely via phone and videoconferencing. Individuals were recruited via social media and soc data were collected on a subsample of individuals.
Methods: We assessed internalizing symptoms, psychological well-being, work and social functioning, usability of the intervention, and emotion regulation over the course of six weeks. Natural language processing (NLP) tools were used for sentiment analysis in individuals who provided their social media data.
Results/Findings: A total of 263 individuals completed our screening. Of those, 75.29% (n= 198) qualified for the intervention. We reached most participants who qualified (71.21%, n= 141) via phone to schedule a GSH session. Most of those scheduled attended a study session (84.4%, n = 119), and most of those who attended a session completed more than half the treatment (84.03%, n = 100). Retention rates were comparable to meta-analytic estimates of dropout rates in GSH. Participants showed improvement on internalizing symptoms, psychological well-being, work and social functioning, usability of the intervention, and emotion regulation. NLP metrics were correlated with but not redundant from self-report data.
Conclusions/Discussion: DWM is a freely available, seemingly efficacious transdiagnostic intervention for internalizing disorder symptoms.
Translational/Human Health Impact: Social media recruitment and engagement is a promising tool to disseminate guided self-help material.
