Efficacy of Internet-based rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based intervention with guided support in reducing risks of depression and anxiety: A randomized controlled trial

Rumination and worry are common risk factors of depression and anxiety. Internet-based transdiagnostic interventions targeting individuals with these specific risks may be an effective way to prevent depression and anxiety. This three-arm randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of Internet-based rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RFCBT), mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), and psychoeducation (EDU) control among 256 at-risk individuals. Participants' levels of rumination, worry, depressive, and anxiety symptoms were assessed at post-intervention (6 weeks), 3-month, and 9-month follow-ups. Linear mixed model analysis results showed similar levels of improvement in all outcomes across the three conditions. Changes in rumination differed comparing RFCBT and MBI, where a significant reduction in rumination was noted at a 3-month follow-up among participants in RFCBT, and no significant long-term effect among participants in MBI was noted at a 9-month follow-up. All three conditions showed similar reductions in risks and symptoms, implying that the two active interventions were not superior to EDU control. The high attrition at follow-ups suggested a need to exercise caution when interpreting the findings. Future studies should tease apart placebo effect and identify ways to improve adherence.

Associations between interconnectedness, compassion, and participation in collective action for people with mental illness: A random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling approach

The present study aims to prospectively investigate the relationships between interconnectedness, compassion, and participation in private and public forms of collective action for people with mental illness. Public form refers to collective action at the macrolevel such as large-scale protests and demonstrations going on in the communities. Private form refers to collective action happening at the microlevel that targets promoting awareness of social inequalities and positive changes among personal social circles, such as calling out microaggressions or correcting others' stigmatizing language. Eligible responses from 501 participants were collected at baseline, with 345 and 318 participants retained at 6-month and 12-month follow-up assessments, respectively. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were conducted to investigate the mediating role of compassion in the relationships between interconnectedness and participation in private and public forms of collective action. Interconnectedness was consistently associated with a higher frequency of participation in private form, but not public form, of collective action at subsequent time points. Contrary to the hypothesis, results showed the nonsignificant mediating effect of compassion between interconnectedness and participation in both forms of collective action. The present study highlights the potential of interconnectedness in promoting a private form of collective action for the rights of people with mental illness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Nine-Month Longitudinal Impact of Peer Support Workers' Recovery Attributes on Service Users' Recovery in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the authors investigated the longitudinal effect of the recovery attributes of peer support workers (PSWs) on users of mental health services in Hong Kong over a 9-month period.

METHODS

Recovery attributes were measured among PSWs (N=26) employed by four local nongovernmental organizations before their commencement of service. The recovery-related outcomes of regular service users (N=181) were measured every 3 months for 9 months. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression analyses with restricted maximum likelihood were used to analyze the possible association of PSWs' qualities on service users' recovery outcomes. The Holm-Bonferroni method was used to adjust for p values to account for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Results showed that levels of hope and self-esteem among PSWs were statistically significantly associated with improvements in hope and empowerment among service users over time.

CONCLUSIONS

PSWs' recovery attributes may benefit service users' personal recovery. Future exploration on the specific pathways of recovery attributes of PSWs on service users' recovery is suggested.