A Blended Intervention for Adjustment Disorder.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility (including usability and satisfaction) and preliminary effectiveness of a blended intervention for Adjustment Disorder. This intervention combines a self-applied Internet-based program (TAO) with face-to-face sessions with a therapist via videoconference.

Adjustment disorder (AjD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in clinical practice. However, although there is still no evidence-based treatment for this problem, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most studied. Internet-based treatments emerge as an alternative to reach more people in need while reducing intervention costs. However, high drop-out rates in this format highlight the need to develop new ways of delivering treatments. The present study aims to test a blended treatment for AjD that combines a self-applied CBT programme online (TAO: Adjustment Disorder Online) with face-to-face sessions with a therapist via videoconference every 10-12 days. Only one treatment group has been included and patients will be evaluated at pre-treatment, post-treatment and follow-up (3 and 12 months). The study will be conducted following the extension of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement for pilot and feasibility studies (Eldridge et al., 2016), the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials of Electronic and Mobile Health Applications and online TeleHealth guidelines (Eysenbach, 2011), and the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines (Chan et al., 2013a; 2013b). Specific objectives of the study include: (1) To analyse the feasibility of different recruitment and data collection methods (e.g., how broad or restrictive are the eligibility criteria, how willing are patients to participate, time needed to collect data), (2) To explore reasons for non-participation and drop-outs from treatment, (3) To assess patient satisfaction and acceptance of treatment (both quantitatively and qualitatively), (4) In addition, as a secondary objective to explore the potential effectiveness of the treatment at post-treatment and follow-up.