Single Session Intervention to Prevent Common Mental Disorders and Among College Students

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The present study aims to determine the effect of presenting psychoeducation emphasizing growth-mindset, and information on depression and anxiety symptom severity. The investigators hypothesize that psychoeducation emphasizing that mental health is malleable will increase the participant's engagement with risk factors outlined in the intervention

Detailed Description
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Depression and anxiety disorders (or common mental disorders; CMDs) are increasingly common among college students, with rates comparable to the general population. As such, brief, scalable and transdiagnostic prevention efforts targeting CMDs are needed. In order to address this need, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a single session intervention (SSI) utilizing growth mindset (GM) on CMD symptom severity and investigate the mediating role of changes in modifiable risk factors in the relationship between intervention and CMD symptom reduction. The intervention will adapt existing GM interventions for college students to engage mechanisms in the prevention and management of common mental disorders including engagement in modifiable risk factors. College students will be randomly assigned to complete either a GM intervention or a psychoeducation control.

Official Title
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Single Session Intervention to Prevent Common Mental Disorders and Among College Students

Conditions
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Depression, Anxiety

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Growth Mindset and Modifiable Risk Factor Information
* Behavioral: Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 17-26 College student at the University of Nevada, Reno Exclusion Criteria: Under the age of 17, over the age of 26 Participated in pilot study Not a college student at the University of Nevada, Reno

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 26 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>Online growth mindset interactive article followed by equal length interactive article describing the relationship between modifiable risk factors (MRF) and mental health outcomes | Behavioral: Growth Mindset and Modifiable Risk Factor Information<br>* 15 minute interactive article describing neuroplasticity followed by 15 minute interactive article describing modifiable risk factors for depression and anxiety<br>|
| Active Comparator: Control<br>Online daily activity scheduling interactive article (control) | Behavioral: Control<br>* 30 minute interactive article describing symptoms of depression and anxiety, common concerns of college student<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001) | 9-item questionnaire associated containing one item for each symptom of MDD as specified by the DSM. Items consist of a 4-point Likert scale (0=Not at all to 3=Nearly every day). Minimum score is 0, maximum score is 27. Higher scores indicate greater depression severity. | 6 months | 
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7; Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams & Lowe, 2006) | 7-item scale, common, brief measure of anxiety symptom severity. Items consist of a 4-point Likert scale (0=Not at all to 3=Nearly every day). Minimum score is 0, maximum score is 21. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptom severity. | 6 months |