Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Nov 21, 2019
Date Accepted: Aug 3, 2020
Optimizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Microintervention via a Mobile App with Two Cohorts: Protocol for Micro-Randomized Trials
ABSTRACT
Background:
Given gaps in the treatment of mental health, brief adaptive interventions have become a public health imperative. Transdiagnostic interventions may be particularly appropriate given high rates of medical comorbidity and the broader reach of transdiagnostic therapies. One such approach utilized herein is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), focused on increasing engagement with values, awareness, and openness to internal experiences. ACT theory posits that experiential avoidance is at the center of human suffering, regardless of diagnosis, and as such, seeks to reduce unworkable experiential avoidance.
Objective:
Provide the rationale and protocol for examining safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of optimizing an ACT-based intervention via a mobile app among two samples: individuals with bipolar disorder and distressed first-generation college students
Methods:
The two studies run concurrently using the same mobile app, but with measures specific to the sample (bipolar sample [n = 30]: mania, depression; college students [n = 50]: perceived stress, depression), as well as activity (e.g., form and function of behavior, and energy consumed by avoidance and values-based behavior). Twice each day, participants are prompted to complete assessments of mood and activity and then randomly assigned to an ACT-based intervention or not. These interventions are questions regarding engagement with values, awareness, and openness to internal experiences. Participant responses are recorded. Analyses will examine completion of assessments, change in symptoms from baseline assessment, and proximal change in mood and activity. A primary outcome of interest is proximal change in activity following intervention as a function of time, symptoms, and behavior, where we hypothesize that participants will focus more energy on values-based behaviors. Analyses will be conducted using a weighted and centered least squares approach.
Results:
Recruitment and enrollment with both samples has begun.
Conclusions:
The current study examines an ACT-based intervention among two samples in terms of mood and activity. This brief adaptive intervention is potentially accessible and applicable across diagnoses and among diverse populations. The public health implications of such an approach may be far-reaching. Clinical Trial: Bipolar cohort ID: NCT04098497; College cohort ID: NCT04081662
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