| 1. |
- Andersson, Claes, et al.
(författare)
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Academic self-efficacy : Associations with self-reported COVID-19 symptoms, mental health, and trust in universities' management of the pandemic-induced university lockdown
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of American College Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0744-8481 .- 1940-3208.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate perceived changes in academic self-efficacy associated with self-reported symptoms of COVID-19, changes in mental health, and trust in universities’ management of the pandemic and transition to remote education during lockdown of Swedish universities in the spring of 2020. Methods: 4495 participated and 3638 responded to self-efficacy questions. Associations were investigated using multinomial regression. Results: Most students reported self-experienced effects on self-efficacy. Lowered self-efficacy was associated with symptoms of contagion, perceived worsening of mental health and low trust in universities’ capacity to successfully manage the lockdown and transition to emergency remote education. Increased self-efficacy was associated with better perceived mental health and high trust in universities. Conclusion: The initial phase of the pandemic was associated with a larger proportion of students reporting self-experienced negative effects on academic self-efficacy. Since self-efficacy is a predictor of academic performance, it is likely that students’ academic performance will be adversely affected.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Claes, et al.
(författare)
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Associations between compliance with covid-19 public health recommendations and perceived contagion in others : a self-report study in Swedish university students
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC Research Notes. - : BioMed Central. - 1756-0500. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: During the COVID pandemic, government authorities worldwide have tried to limit the spread of the virus. Sweden's distinctive feature was the use of voluntary public health recommendations. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of this strategy. Based on data collected in the spring of 2020, this study explored associations between compliance with recommendations and observed symptoms of contagion in others, using self-report data from university students.Results: Compliance with recommendations ranged between 69.7 and 95.7 percent. Observations of moderate symptoms of contagion in "Someone else I have had contact with" and "Another person" were markedly associated with reported self-quarantine, which is the most restrictive recommendation, complied with by 81.2% of participants. Uncertainty regarding the incidence and severity of contagion in cohabitants was markedly associated with the recommendation to avoid public transportation, a recommendation being followed by 69.7%. It is concluded that students largely followed the voluntary recommendations implemented in Sweden, suggesting that coercive measures were not necessary. Compliance with recommendations were associated with the symptoms students saw in others, and with the perceived risk of contagion in the student's immediate vicinity. It is recommended that voluntary recommendations should stress personal relevance, and that close relatives are at risk.
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Claes, et al.
(författare)
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Does the management of personal integrity information lead to differing participation rates and response patterns in mental health surveys with young adults? A three-armed methodological experiment
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1049-8931 .- 1557-0657. ; 30:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This study evaluates whether initiation rates, completion rates, response patterns and prevalence of psychiatric conditions differ by level of personal integrity information given to prospective participants in an online mental health self-report survey.Methods: A three-arm, parallel-group, single-blind experiment was conducted among students from two Swedish universities. Consenting participants following e-mail invitation answered the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health-International College Student (WMH-ICS) mental health self-report survey, screening for eight psychiatric conditions. Random allocation meant consenting to respond (1) anonymously; (2) confidentially, or (3) confidentially, where the respondent also gave consent for collection of register data.Results: No evidence was found for overall between-group differences with respect to (1) pressing a hyperlink to the survey in the invitation email; and (2) abandoning the questionnaire before completion. However, participation consent and self-reported depression were in the direction of higher levels for the anonymous group compared to the two confidential groups.Conclusions: Consent to participate is marginally affected by different levels of personal integrity information. Current standard participant information procedures may not engage participants to read the information thoroughly, and online self-report mental health surveys may reduce stigma and thus be less subject to social desirability bias.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Claes, et al.
(författare)
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Symptoms of COVID-19 contagion in different social contexts in association to self-reported symptoms, mental health and study capacity in Swedish university students
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMC Research Notes. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1756-0500. ; 15:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The present study investigates if symptoms of COVID-19 contagion in different social contexts (cohabitants, family, acquaintances, and others) are associated with university students' own self-reported symptoms of COVID-19 contagion, mental health, and study capacity. This was investigated by a cross-sectional survey administrated in Sweden during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the time when universities were locked down to limit viral spread and contagion.Results: Mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in cohabitants and family members were associated with student’s self-reported symptoms of contagion, while no associations could be seen in relation to mental health and study capacity. Symptoms of COVID-19 contagion in acquaintances and others were not associated with students’ self-reported symptoms, nor with their mental health and study capacity.To conclude, during the initial lockdown of universities students’ self-reported symptoms of contagion were mainly associated with cohabitants and family members, while symptoms of contagion in different social contexts were not associated with mental health and study capacity. Findings suggest that lockdown of universities may have contributed to limiting infection pathways, while still allowing students to focus on their studies despite significant contagion among others known to the student.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Gerhard, et al.
(författare)
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6 Internet-supported versus face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy for depression
- 2016
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Ingår i: Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1473-7175 .- 1744-8360. ; 16:1, s. 55-60
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Major depression and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent and there is a need for different forms of psychological treatments that can be delivered from a distance at a low cost. In the present review the authors contrast face-to-face and Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) for depression. A total of five studies are reviewed in which guided ICBT was directly compared against face-to-face CBT. Meta-analytic summary statistics were calculated for the five studies involving a total of 429 participants. The average effect size difference was Hedges g=0.12 (95% CI: -0.06-0.30) in the direction of favoring guided ICBT. The small difference in effect has no implication for clinical practice. The overall empirical status of clinician-guided ICBT for depression is commented on and future challenges are highlighted. Among these are developing treatments for patients with more severe and long-standing depression and for children, adolescents and the elderly. Also, there is a need to investigate mechanisms of change.
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| 6. |
- Berg, Ida, et al.
(författare)
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“Good job!” : Therapists' encouragement, affirmation, and personal address in internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for adolescents with depression
- 2022
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Ingår i: Internet Interventions. - : Elsevier. - 2214-7829. ; 30
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Internet-delivered interventions are generally effective for psychological problems. While the presence of a clinician guiding the client via text messages typically leads to better outcomes, the characteristics of what constitutes high-quality communication are less well investigated. This study aimed to identify how an internet therapist most effectively communicates with clients in internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT). Using data from a treatment study of depressed adolescents with a focus on participants who had a positive outcome, messages from therapists were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study focused on the therapist's 1) encouragement and 2) affirmation, and how the therapists used 3) personal address. The analysis resulted in a total of twelve themes (Persistence Wins, You Are a Superhero, You Make Your Luck, You Understand, Hard Times, You Are Like Others, My View on the Matter, Time for a Change, Welcome In, Let Me Help You, You Affect Me, and I Am Human). Overall, the themes form patterns where treatment is described as hard work that requires a motivated client who is encouraged by the therapist. The findings are discussed based on the cognitive behavioral theoretical foundation of the treatment, prior research on therapist behaviors, and the fact that the treatment is provided over the internet.
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| 7. |
- Berg, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Knowledge gain and usage of knowledge learned during internet-based CBT treatment for adolescent depression : a qualitative study
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMC Psychiatry. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-244X. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThe role of explicit learning of treatment content in internet-based cognitive-behavioural treatment (ICBT) is an emerging field of research. The objective of this study was to explore clients experiences of their ICBT treatment for depression with a focus on knowledge gain and usage of knowledge learned during treatment.MethodsA strategic sample of ten adolescents, aged between 15 and 19 years, who had received ICBT for major depression within a clinical controlled trial were recruited for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted 6 months following trial completion. Data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The participants had a general adherence rate of 6–8 opened modules out of 8 possible.ResultsTwo main themes were identified; “Active agents of CBT” and “Passive agents of CBT”, with each theme consisting of three and two sub-themes. Active agents of CBT reflect a tendency to specifically remember and actively apply specific CBT principles in present life situations. Passive agents of CBT reflect a tendency to remember CBT treatment principles vaguely and express a passive or reactive usage of learned therapy content.ConclusionThe findings suggest that young clients can remember and apply CBT principles 6 months after their treatment. However, while experiencing benefits of treatment, clients recall and application of treatment strategies vary. The study emphasizes the importance of exploring client recall of CBT components and how valuable it is to explicitly remember contents of a treatment in order to improve and maintain improvement. Further studies on the role of knowledge and memory of ICBT for adolescent populations are warranted.
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| 8. |
- Berg, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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The role of knowledge in internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescent depression : Results from a randomised controlled study
- 2019
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Ingår i: Internet Interventions. - : Elsevier. - 2214-7829. ; 15, s. 10-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and objectivesClients' knowledge about their condition and treatment is considered crucial for general health improvement, and knowledge acquisition is an essential part in internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT). Yet, little is known about the role of knowledge and how it influences treatment outcome. This study aimed to examine if explicit knowledgeincreased following ICBT for adolescent depression, if knowledge gainwould be associated with symptom reduction, and if pre-existing knowledge predicted changes in depressive symptoms.MethodsSeventy-one adolescents were randomised to a therapist-supported ICBT or a attention control condition. A measure of depression (BDI-II) and a knowledge test dealing with depression, comorbid anxiety, and its CBT-treatment were administered before and after treatment.ResultsSignificant improvements in knowledge were observed following ICBT compared to the attention control (between-group Cohen's d = 1.25, 95% CI [0.67–1.79]). On average, participants in the treatment group answered 1.4 more questions correctly at post treatment compared to the control group. No relation between change in knowledge and change in depressive symptoms could be observed. Knowledge scores at baseline were high for both groups, with participants answering approximately 75% of the questions correct. A higher level of initial knowledge level predicted poorer treatment response (Parson's r = −0.38, p = .048).ConclusionsThe findings indicate that knowledge about basic concepts and principles about depression, anxiety, and CBT increases following ICBT. This increase in knowledge was not related to change in depressive symptoms, indicating that knowledge is a different construct. The results also suggest that clients who are more knowledgeable prior to treatment might benefit less from ICBT. In sum, the results highlight the need to further examine the role of knowledge in ICBT.
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| 9. |
- Berg, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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The Role of Learning Support and Chat-Sessions in Guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents With Anxiety: A Factorial Design Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychiatry. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-0640. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Increased awareness of anxiety in adolescents emphasises the need for effective interventions. Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) could be a resource-effective and evidence-based treatment option, but little is known about how to optimize ICBT or which factors boost outcomes. Recently, the role of knowledge in psychotherapy has received increased focus. Further, chat-sessions are of interest when trying to optimize ICBT for youths. This study aimed to evaluate the role of learning support and chat-sessions during ICBT for adolescent anxiety, using a factorial design. Method A total of 120 adolescents were randomised to one of four treatment groups, in a 2x2 design with two factors: with or without learning support and/or chat-sessions. Results Anxiety and depressive symptoms were reduced (Beck Anxiety Inventory- BAI; Cohensd=0.72; Beck Depression Inventory- BDI;d=0.97). There was a main effect of learning support on BAI (d=0.38), and learning support increased knowledge gain (d =0.42). There were no main effects or interactions related to the chat-sessions. Treatment effects were maintained at 6-months, but the added effect of learning support had by then vanished. Conclusion ICBT can be an effective alternative when treating adolescents with anxiety. Learning support could be of importance to enhance short-term treatment effects, and should be investigated further.
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| 10. |
- Berman, Anne H, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment and internet interventions for mental health problems among university students : Swedish partnership in the WHO World Mental Health international college student study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Abstracts from the 12th Swedish Congress on internet interventions (SWEsrii), Uppsala University, Sweden. ; , s. 9-9
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- One in three university students present with mental health symptoms. Help-seeking behavior is low due to emotional and practical barriers. The objectives of this session are to introduce and report on initial findings of the Swedish part of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) project, which aims at mapping students’ mental health problems and proactively deliver internet interventions to those identified at risk.1) Project introduction: The project conducts annual epidemiological surveys with 15 universities and colleges in Sweden. Students presenting with mental health problems in surveys are offered participation in a three-arm RCT, evaluating guided or unguided transdiagnostic ICBT against waiting list. In an embedded trial-within-trial, participants in treatment showing no improvement are randomized to personally adapted treatment (1:1) at mid-treatment.2) Students' experiences of a campus-wide mental health surveyBetween 2020–2022, over 2000 college students completing the WMH-ICS survey commented on their experience with it. We report results from an analysis of the open-ended responses using Consensual Qualitative Research- Modified methodology.3) Feasibility pilot resultsIn a single-group pilot study (n=28), students screening positive for depression (PHQ-9) and/or anxiety (GAD-7) received therapist-guided transdiagnostic ICBT over 8 weeks. We report on feasibility outcomes such as recruitment, uptake, measures of acceptability, and adaptive treatment procedures.4) Implementing digital psychology in academic curriculumsThe project led to a proof-of-concept course establishment for advanced clinical psychology students and health professionals: “Digital Psychology in Theory and Practice”. We report on the course syllabus and experiences of pilot course participants.
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