Effects of an internet-based self-help intervention for psychological distress due to COVID-19: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Digital Health
• Psychology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for mental health support.
• Internet-based interventions offer scalable and accessible solutions for psychological distress.
• The ROCO intervention was developed to address pandemic-related psychological distress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the internet-based self-help intervention ROCO.
• To assess the impact of ROCO on depressive symptoms and other psychological outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with 107 German-speaking adults with depressive symptoms.
• Intervention group received ROCO plus usual care; control group received usual care.
• Self-report questionnaires assessed outcomes pre- and post-treatment and at follow-up.

Main Results:

• ROCO did not significantly reduce depressive, anxiety, or stress symptoms.
• The intervention significantly increased emotion regulation skills (d=0.35).
• Resilience was also significantly enhanced by the ROCO intervention (d=0.38).

Conclusions:

• The ROCO intervention is not recommended for reducing depressive symptoms.
• It shows potential for preventive purposes, enhancing emotion regulation and resilience.
• Further research is needed to determine optimal use and target populations.