Emotional Well-beingiCBT-AcademiaNCT07082296
iCBT to Promote Emotional Well-being in University and Research Communities: Feasibility and Acceptability Study
A study testing iCBT-Academia in people with Emotional Well-being, run by Joaquim Radua at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
This study will evaluate a brief internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program developed specifically for university students, researchers, and academic staff. People in academic settings often face high levels of pressure and may experience psychological difficulties such as anxiety or excessive worry. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Emotional Well-being
- What is being tested?
- iCBT-Academia
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 35 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 11 Jul 2025to 1 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Ability to read in Catalan or Spanish.
- Undergraduate or master's student, PhD student, or teaching and researching staff.
Who cannot join
- Report that they are receiving psychological treatment or have a current mental disorder diagnosis.
- High subjective well-being and minimal symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline, defined as scoring ≥20 on the Positive Affect subscale and <10 on the Negative Affect subscale of the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (I-PANAS-SF), scoring ≥26 on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and scoring <5 on both the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Use of an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Platform to Carry Out an Intervention Aimed at Promoting Emotional Well-Being in the University and Research Community
This study will evaluate a brief internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program developed specifically for university students, researchers, and academic staff.
People in academic settings often face high levels of pressure and may experience psychological difficulties such as anxiety or excessive worry. However, access to psychological support adapted to the academic context is frequently limited.
Read more
This study investigates whether a short, self-guided online iCBT program can help promote emotional well-being in this population. The program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles and is designed to be completed in four weeks, with brief sessions four times per week that can be accessed on any device.
Participants will complete questionnaires before and after the intervention to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the program, as well as changes in emotional well-being.
The aim is to evaluate whether this digital intervention can serve as a useful, scalable tool to support emotional well-being in university and research environments.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effects of a brief, self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program-iCBT-Academia-designed specifically for the university and research community. The intervention consists of four weekly modules delivered through a digital platform, with each module including short CBT-based lessons and practical exercises tailored to the academic context.
The study will use a single-group open-label design. Based on ICBT's previous open trials (see, for example, trials NCT03457714 or NCT03946098), 25 participants should be sufficient to estimate feasibility and preliminary effects. Participants will complete self-report questionnaires assessing various aspects of emotional well-being (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression) before and after the intervention, as well as acceptability (TAAS) and potential adverse effects (NEQ) after the intervention. Retention, compliance, and participant feedback will also be evaluated.
This project seeks to explore whether such a digital intervention is a viable and scalable tool to support emotional well-being in academic environments.
- Conditions
- Emotional Well-being
- Being tested
- iCBT-Academia
- Keywords
- iCBT, subjective well-being, emotional well-being, anxiety, depression, feasibility, acceptability, academia, university and research community
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
iCBT-AcademiaBehavioural
iCBT-Academia is a brief, self-guided, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program specifically tailored to address the real-life challenges faced by the university and research community. It consists of four modules, each designed to be completed over a week.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| University and Research Community | Experimental | Participants will receive the self-guided 4-week iCBT intervention. Receives: Behavioral: iCBT-Academia |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Retention/compliance rates
Retention/compliance rates refer to the proportion of participants who complete the study and follow the intervention as intended.
Measured: Post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment)
Acceptability
Acceptability will be measured using the Treatment Acceptability and Adherence Scale (TAAS), a brief self-report questionnaire that evaluates the acceptability of the psychological intervention from the participant's perspective. The TAAS consists of 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). To maintain comparability with the original scale, total scores (ranging from 10 to 50) will be linearly rescaled to range from 10 to 70. Higher scores indicate greater acceptability and adherence.
Measured: Post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Changes in affect
Affect will be measured using the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (I-PANAS-SF), a 10-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess positive and negative affect. It includes two subscales: Positive Affect and Negative Affect, each comprising 5 items. Participants rate each item on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always). Subscale scores range from 5 to 25. Higher scores on the Positive Affect subscale indicate greater experience of positive emotions, while higher scores on the Negative Affect subscale indicate greater experience of negative emotions. An additional, shorter 4-item version, comprising items 6, 7, 8, and 9 (the two items with the highest factor loadings for positive affect and the two with the highest loadings for negative affect), will also be used.
Measured: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, the 4-item version will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Changes in life satisfaction
Life satisfaction will be measured using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), a brief self-report questionnaire that assesses the cognitive component of subjective well-being through participants' ratings of their overall life satisfaction. The SWLS consists of 5 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). To maintain comparability with the original scale, total scores (ranging from 5 to 25) will be linearly rescaled to range from 5 to 35. Higher scores indicate greater life satisfaction. An additional, shorter 2-item version comprising items 1 and 3 (the two items with the highest factor loadings), will also be used.
Measured: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, the 2-item version will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Changes in anxiety symptoms
Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), a brief self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of anxiety symptoms experienced over the past two weeks. Each of the 7 items is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), with total scores ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater severity of anxiety symptoms. GAD-2, a shorter version with 2 items, will also be used.
Measured: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, GAD-2 will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Changes in depressive symptoms
Depressive symptoms will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a brief self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks, based on DSM diagnostic criteria. Each of the 9 items is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), with total scores ranging from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms. PHQ-2, a shorter version with 2 items, will also be used.
Measured: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, PHQ-2 will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Possible negative effects
Possible negative effects will be assessed using the Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ), a brief self-report instrument designed to evaluate negative effects experienced during or after a psychological intervention. The version used includes 20 items covering five domains: symptoms, quality, dependency, stigma, and hopelessness. Each item captures two dimensions: (1) whether the effect occurred and was attributed to the intervention, and (2) the perceived negative impact, rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). Total impact scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater perceived negative effects. In addition, a shorter 5-item version-comprising items 6, 11, 12, 14, and 16 (the items with the highest factor loading in each domain and retained in the NEQ-20)-will also be used.
Measured: Post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, the 5-item version will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jul 2025
- Study start11 Jul 2025
- Primary completion1 Jan 2026
- Study completion1 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Emotional Well-beingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 35 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Joaquim Radua
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Joaquim Radua, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer
- Investigators
- Joaquim Radua, Principal investigator, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07082296
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023BENES003
- Acronym
- iCBT-Academia
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 24 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Use of an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Platform to Carry Out an Intervention Aimed at Promoting Emotional Well-Being in the University and Research Community
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07082296
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- iCBT-Academia / 2023BENES003
- Conditions
- Emotional Well-being
- Keywords
- iCBT, subjective well-being, emotional well-being, anxiety, depression, feasibility, acceptability, academia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 35 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Joaquim RaduaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will evaluate a brief internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program developed specifically for university students, researchers, and academic staff.
People in academic settings often face high levels of pressure and may experience psychological difficulties such as anxiety or excessive worry. However, access to psychological support adapted to the academic context is frequently limited.
This study investigates whether a short, self-guided online iCBT program can help promote emotional well-being in this population. The program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles and is designed to be completed in four weeks, with brief sessions four times per week that can be accessed on any device.
Participants will complete questionnaires before and after the intervention to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the program, as well as changes in emotional well-being.
The aim is to evaluate whether this digital intervention can serve as a useful, scalable tool to support emotional well-being in university and research environments.
Detailed description
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effects of a brief, self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program-iCBT-Academia-designed specifically for the university and research community. The intervention consists of four weekly modules delivered through a digital platform, with each module including short CBT-based lessons and practical exercises tailored to the academic context.
The study will use a single-group open-label design. Based on ICBT's previous open trials (see, for example, trials NCT03457714 or NCT03946098), 25 participants should be sufficient to estimate feasibility and preliminary effects. Participants will complete self-report questionnaires assessing various aspects of emotional well-being (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression) before and after the intervention, as well as acceptability (TAAS) and potential adverse effects (NEQ) after the intervention. Retention, compliance, and participant feedback will also be evaluated.
This project seeks to explore whether such a digital intervention is a viable and scalable tool to support emotional well-being in academic environments.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| University and Research Community | Experimental | Behavioral: iCBT-AcademiaParticipants will receive the self-guided 4-week iCBT intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Ability to read in Catalan or Spanish.
- Undergraduate or master's student, PhD student, or teaching and researching staff.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Report that they are receiving psychological treatment or have a current mental disorder diagnosis.
- High subjective well-being and minimal symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline, defined as scoring ≥20 on the Positive Affect subscale and <10 on the Negative Affect subscale of the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (I-PANAS-SF), scoring ≥26 on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and scoring <5 on both the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| iCBT-AcademiaiCBT-Academia is a brief, self-guided, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program specifically tailored to address the real-life challenges faced by the university and research community. It consists of four modules, each designed to be completed over a week. | Behavioural | University and Research Community |
Primary outcome
Retention/compliance rates
Time frame: Post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment)
Retention/compliance rates refer to the proportion of participants who complete the study and follow the intervention as intended.
Acceptability
Time frame: Post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment)
Acceptability will be measured using the Treatment Acceptability and Adherence Scale (TAAS), a brief self-report questionnaire that evaluates the acceptability of the psychological intervention from the participant's perspective. The TAAS consists of 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). To maintain comparability with the original scale, total scores (ranging from 10 to 50) will be linearly rescaled to range from 10 to 70. Higher scores indicate greater acceptability and adherence.
5 secondary outcomes
Changes in affect
Time frame: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, the 4-item version will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Changes in life satisfaction
Time frame: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, the 2-item version will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Changes in anxiety symptoms
Time frame: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, GAD-2 will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Changes in depressive symptoms
Time frame: Pre-intervention and post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, PHQ-2 will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Possible negative effects
Time frame: Post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment). In addition, the 5-item version will be administered at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after commencing treatment.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Joaquim Radua principal investigator
Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing iCBT-Academia in people with Emotional Well-being, run by Joaquim Radua at 1 site in Spain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Retention/compliance rates (time frame: Post-intervention (4 weeks after commencing treatment)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Mar 2026.