Clinical trial NCT05829174: Comparison of Online Group Therapy Interventions for Procrastination
Official title: Comparison of Online Group Therapy Interventions for Procrastination: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Different Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Protocols
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Procrastination
Lead sponsor: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Sponsor class: OTHER_GOV
Collaborators: name: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw
name: Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences
name: National Science Centre, Poland
First posted: 2023-04-25
Enrollment: 222
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 26
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of two cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) protocols for procrastination with an active control protocol including cognitive-behavioral elements and with a wait-list control group. The interventions will be delivered online in group settings. All three protocols include identical psychoeducation and cognitive modules related to procrastination, but will differ in the behavioral modules. The behavioral module in one protocol is focused on starting on time and realistic planning. The second protocol implements working time restriction. The active comparator protocol implements the pomodoro time management technique. The wait-list control group will receive one of the CBT protocols after the period of waiting. It is assumed that all active conditions will be superior to the wait-list control, and that CBT protocols will be superior to the protocol including the time management technique. Primary (procrastination) and secondary (depression and anxiety) measures will be collected prior and after the interventions (or waiting period in wait-list group) and after 6-months in the three active condition groups.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Bachelor's and Master's university students
* Self-reported primary difficulties related to chronic and severe procrastination
* Serious procrastination problem lasting for at least one year as confirmed during clinical interview
* Having a postponed/procrastinated project to complete in the course of therapy
* Willing to participate in the study
* Fluent in Polish language
* Computer access and stable Internet connection

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current participation in other psychotherapy
* Change of psychiatric medication during last 12 weeks
* Severe anxiety or affective disorders and any other severe psychiatric disorders that require other type of specialized care and are primary to procrastination problem (e.g. major depressive episode, social phobia, PTSD, etc.)
* Active suicidality
* Psychosis, bipolar disorder
* Alcohol or substance dependence
* Severe personality disorders (with exclusion of avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Polish version of the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Aitken Procrastination Inventory (API)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Polish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Degree of completion of a particular project that the participant decided to work on during the training (e.g. a thesis, an essay, a report).
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6)
Other outcomes:
measure: Change in Polish version of the subscales Low work discipline and Fear of failure of the Study Problems Questionnaire (SPQ)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0) mid-treatment assessment (week 3);; post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire - Short Form (SPSRQ-SF)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Multidimensional-Multiattributional Causality Scale (MMCS)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation questionnaire (DERS)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Motivation Diagnostic Test (MDT)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Metacognitive Beliefs about Procrastination Questionnaire (MBPQ)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Impulsivity Scale (UPPS-P)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of the Self-control Scale (NAS-50)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0), mid-treatment assessment (week 3), post-treatment assessment (week 6), follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)
measure: Change in Polish version of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in relation to a project that the participant decided to work on during the training (e.g. a thesis, an essay, a report)
timeFrame: baseline assessment (week 0), mid-treatment assessment (week 3), post-treatment assessment (week 6)
measure: Polish version of the Group Session Rating Scale (GSRS)
timeFrame: During the treatment (after each therapy session - weeks 1-5)
measure: Polish version of the Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ)
timeFrame: After the first session (week 1)
measure: Polish version of the Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ)
timeFrame: Post-treatment (week 6)
measure: Polish version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)
timeFrame: Post-treatment (week 6)
Locations:
city: Warsaw
country: Poland
facility: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Study officials:
affiliation: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences
name: Marek Wypych, PhD, DSc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities
name: Jarosław Michałowski, Prof.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences
name: Joachim Kowalski, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
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