NCT07167849

Study on a Digital Ultra-Brief Intervention During Wait Times for Psychotherapy

Optimizing a Digital Ultra-brief Treatment for Patients Waiting for Face-to-face Psychotherapy: An Investigation of Treatment Content, Human Support, and Patient Expectations (OPTIBRIEF)

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 312 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Bern · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The OPTIBRIEF study investigates different versions of a digital ultra-brief intervention (UKADO - a German acronym for ultra-brief intervention against anxiety and depression online) during the waiting period for psychotherapy. Using a factorial trial design, the components 1) intervention content, 2) human support, and 3) expectation-fostering elements will be examined. After completing initial questionnaires and participating in a diagnostic interview, participants are randomly assigned to one of eight groups and work through a specific version of UKADO. The program can be completed in a session of approximately 60 minutes, after which the exercises should continue to be used. Participants then complete another set of questionnaires at specific time points (after 2 weeks, 5 weeks, 9 weeks, and 24 weeks). A selection of participants also takes part in another telephone appointment to assess experiences with UKADO. With the OPTIBRIEF study, the investigators aim to determine which version of the program is most suitable for individuals waiting for a psychotherapy slot. To this end, the investigators examine the effects on anxiety and depression symptom severity, as well as aspects such as participants' experiences with the program.

Conditions

• Depressive Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	UKADO Content - problem-focused	UKADO is a digital ultra-brief intervention intended to reduce symptoms of depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. Content is either problem-focused or resource-focused. This version is problem-focused
BEHAVIORAL	UKADO Content - resource-focused	UKADO is a digital ultra-brief intervention intended to reduce symptoms of depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. Content is either problem-focused or resource-focused. This version is resource-focused.
BEHAVIORAL	Human support	Human support is provided as two weeks of guidance for study participants
BEHAVIORAL	Expectation fostering elements	Patient in the expectation-fostering condition receive elements in UKADO that are meant to foster expectations.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-22
• Primary completion: 2027-12-01
• Completion: 2027-12-01
• First posted: 2025-09-11
• Last updated: 2025-11-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland