Introduction: Anxiety and depression have increased markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a lack of evidence-based strategies to address these mental health needs during the pandemic. Objective: We aim to conduct a proof-of-concept trial of the efficacy of a brief group-based psychological intervention delivered via videoconferencing for adults in Australia distressed by the pandemic. Methods: In this single-blind, parallel, randomised controlled trial, adults who screened positive for COVID-related psychological distress across Australia were randomly allocated to either a 6-session group-based program based on behavioural principles (n = 120) or enhanced usual care (EUC, n = 120). Primary outcome was total score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) anxiety and depression subscales assessed at baseline, 1 week posttreatment, 2 months (primary outcome time point), and 6 months after treatment, as well as secondary outcome measures of worry, sleep impairment, anhedonia, mood, and COVID-19-related stress. Results: Between May 20, 2020, and October 20, 2020, 240 patients were enrolled into the trial. Relative to EUC, at 2 months participants receiving intervention showed greater reduction on anxiety (mean difference, 1.4 [95% CI, 0.3 to 2.6], p = 0.01; effect size, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.1 to 0.7]) and depression (mean difference, 1.6 [95% CI, 0.4 to 2.8], p = 0.009; effect size, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7]) scales. These effects were maintained at 6 months. There were also greater reductions of worry, anhedonia, COVID-19-related fears, and contamination fears. Conclusions: This trial provides initial evidence that brief group-based behavioural intervention delivered via videoconferencing results in moderate reductions in common psychological problems arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program may offer a viable and scalable means to mitigate the rising mental health problems during the pandemic.
Psychother Psychosom

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 期间视频会议对心理健康问题进行心理干预的有效性：概念验证随机临床试验

简介：在 COVID-19 大流行期间，焦虑和抑郁症显着增加。在大流行期间，缺乏解决这些心理健康需求的循证策略。目标：我们的目标是进行概念验证试验，以验证通过视频会议为受疫情困扰的澳大利亚成年人提供的基于小组的简短心理干预的有效性。方法：在这项单盲、平行、随机对照试验中，澳大利亚各地 COVID 相关心理困扰筛查呈阳性的成年人被随机分配到基于行为原则 ( n = 120) 的 6 次小组计划或增强常规护理（EUC， n= 120)。主要结果是在基线、治疗后 1 周、2 个月（主要结果时间点）和治疗后 6 个月评估的医院焦虑和抑郁 (HADS) 焦虑和抑郁分量表的总分，以及担心的次要结果测量，睡眠障碍、快感缺乏、情绪和 COVID-19 相关压力。结果： 2020 年 5 月 20 日至 2020 年 10 月 20 日期间，共有 240 名患者参加了试验。相对于 EUC，在 2 个月时接受干预的参与者表现出更大的焦虑减少（平均差，1.4 [95% CI，0.3 至 2.6]，p= 0.01; 影响大小，0.4 [95% CI，0.1 到 0.7]）和抑郁（平均差，1.6 [95% CI，0.4 到 2.8]，p = 0.009；影响大小，0.4 [95% CI，0.2 到 0.7]）量表. 这些效果维持在 6 个月。担忧、快感缺失、与 COVID-19 相关的恐惧和对污染的恐惧也有了更大的减少。结论：该试验提供了初步证据，表明通过视频会议提供的基于小组的简短行为干预可适度减少 COVID-19 大流行期间出现的常见心理问题。该计划可能提供一种可行且可扩展的方法来缓解大流行期间不断上升的心理健康问题。
心理治疗师