Video-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for COVID-19 anxiety: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective Cognitive-behavioral interventions can be effective for relieving anxiety associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but complications such as social distancing, quarantine, a shortage of experts, and delayed care provisions have made it difficult to access face-to-face therapeutic interventions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a video-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for reducing COVID-19 anxiety. Method In the present randomized controlled trial, 150 college students with severe COVID-19 anxiety were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 75) or a waiting list control (n = 75) group. The intervention group participated in a video-based cognitive-behavioral program consisting of nine 15-20-minute sessions (three days a week for three weeks). Dependent measures included the COVID-19 Anxiety Questionnaire, Short Health Anxiety Inventory, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Somatosensory Amplification Scale, Experience of Parasocial Interaction Scale, and Source Credibility Scale. Results Participants who were randomly assigned to the cognitive-behavioral program reported high parasocial interaction, source credibility, and satisfaction with the intervention. Eighty percent reported that the video-based intervention was a beneficial alternative to traditional face-to-face therapeutic intervention. At post-treatment evaluation, the video-based cognitive-behavioral intervention group showed a significant reduction in COVID-19 anxiety, health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and somatosensory amplification when compared to the wait-listed control group. Conclusions This study suggests that video-based cognitive-behavioral interventions can be an affordable, feasible, and effective method to reduce anxiety during a large-scale pandemic.

摘要
目的 认知行为干预可有效缓解新型冠状病毒肺炎（Coronavirus Disease 2019，COVID-19）相关焦虑，但社交疏离、隔离、专家短缺及诊疗服务供给延误等不利因素使得面对面治疗干预难以开展。本研究旨在探讨基于视频的认知行为干预对降低COVID-19相关焦虑的疗效。
方法 本项随机对照试验共纳入150名存在重度COVID-19相关焦虑的大学生，将其随机分配至干预组（n=75）与等候列表对照组（n=75）。干预组参与基于视频的认知行为干预方案，该方案包含9个15~20分钟的课时，每周开展3次，持续3周。本研究的因变量评估指标包括COVID-19焦虑问卷、简短健康焦虑量表（Short Health Anxiety Inventory）、焦虑敏感性指数-3（Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3）、躯体感觉放大量表（Somatosensory Amplification Scale）、类社会互动体验量表（Experience of Parasocial Interaction Scale）以及信息源可信度量表（Source Credibility Scale）。
结果 被随机分配至认知行为干预组的参与者报告，其对本次干预的类社会互动体验、信息源可信度及满意度均较高。80%的参与者表示，基于视频的干预可作为传统面对面治疗干预的有益替代方案。治疗后评估结果显示，与等候列表对照组相比，基于视频的认知行为干预组在COVID-19相关焦虑、健康焦虑、焦虑敏感性及躯体感觉放大程度上均出现显著降低。
结论 本研究表明，基于视频的认知行为干预可作为大规模疫情期间缓解焦虑的一种经济可行、易于实施且疗效确切的方法。