The Effectiveness of Integrated Transdiagnostic Treatment on Improving Symptoms and Emotional Indicators in Individuals with Internet Addiction Comorbid with Other Emotional Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The Aim of The Present Study Is to Investigate The Effectiveness of Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment on Improving Symptoms and Emotional Indices of Individuals with Internet Addiction Comorbid with Other Emotional Disorders.
Design
34 participants with Internet addiction and emotional disorders will be randomly assigned (using a blocking method) and double-blinded to the treatment and waitlist groups.
Settings and conduct
Participant allocation will be done by someone other than the therapist. Block randomization will be used to allocate participants. Referral to treatment groups and waiting lists will be made by the Kurdistan University Counseling Center and mental health professionals.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
The General Population includes students of Kurdistan University, and the sample Includes a number of these individuals with Internet Addiction comorbid with Emotional Disorders.
Intervention groups
Individuals with internet addiction accompanied by emotional disorders will be randomly assigned to either the unified transdiagnostic treatment group or the waitlist group.
Main outcome variables
Internet Addiction, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, Distress Intolerance, Experiential Avoidance
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20250529065959N1
Registration date:2025-06-25, 1404/04/04
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2025-06-25, 1404/04/04
Update count:0
Registration date
2025-06-25, 1404/04/04
Registrant information
Name
sara karimi
Name of organization / entity
University of kurdistan
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 83 3837 2966
Email address
sara.karimi@uok.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2025-07-21, 1404/04/30
Expected recruitment end date
2025-12-16, 1404/09/25
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The Effectiveness of Integrated Transdiagnostic Treatment on Improving Symptoms and Emotional Indicators in Individuals with Internet Addiction Comorbid with Other Emotional Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Public title
The Effectiveness of the Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment on Internet Addiction comorbid with Emotional Disorders
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
The diagnosis of internet addiction is based on a structured clinical interview and the use of Young's Internet Addiction Questionnaire with a minimum score of 46
Having at least one emotional disorder
An age range of 18-30 years
A willingness to cooperate and continue therapy sessions
Exclusion criteria:
Using psychiatric medications or psychoactive substances, , and
Having more than two absences
Receiving psychological interventions concurrently
Diagnosis of any psychological disorder other than those under investigation in the study
Age
From 18 years old to 30 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Participant
Care provider
Investigator
Sample size
Target sample size:
34
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Following the selection of individuals with Internet addiction comorbid with emotional disorders based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, they will be assigned to treatment and control groups using a minimization method. The purpose of this method is to control for the variable of gender. Thus, if the first participant is female, she will be placed in group number one. If the second participant is male, he will also be placed in the first group. If the third participant is female, she will be placed in the second group, and the remaining participants will be assigned to groups in the same manner, adjusting for the gender variable.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
In this study, a clinical interview will be conducted by an expert clinical therapist to assess inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the treatment or control group after providing informed consent to participate in the research, such that participants will be unaware of their group assignment (treatment or control). Group allocation of participants and administration of study tests at all three stages (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up) will be performed by someone other than the therapist.
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics committee in Biomedical Research
Street address
Pasdaran Blvd, University of Kurdistan, Central Organization
City
Sanandaj
Province
Kurdistan
Postal code
66177-15175
Approval date
2025-05-18, 1404/02/28
Ethics committee reference number
IR.UOK.REC.1404.009
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Internet Addiction
ICD-10 code
F63.8
ICD-10 code description
Other impulse disorders
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Internet Addiction score in Young Questionnare
Timepoint
before the treatment, after the treatment, 1 months after the end of the treatment
Method of measurement
Young Internet Addiction Questionnaire
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Depression score on the Beck Depression Inventory, second edition
Timepoint
Before treatment, after treatment, 1 months after the end of treatment
Method of measurement
Beck Depression Inventory, second edition
2
Description
Anxiety score on the Beck Anxiety Questionnaire
Timepoint
Before treatment, after treatment, 1 months after completion of treatment
Method of measurement
Beck Anxiety Questionnaire
3
Description
Difficulties in emotion regulation score
Timepoint
Before treatment, after treatment, 1 months after completion of treatment
Method of measurement
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale
4
Description
Experiential Avoidance score
Timepoint
Before treatment, after treatment, 1 months after completion of treatment
Method of measurement
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II
5
Description
Distress Intolerance score
Timepoint
Before treatment, after treatment, 1 months after completion of treatment
Method of measurement
Distress Tolerance Scale
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: Integrative transdiagnostic therapy for emotional disorders involves up to 12 45-minute sessions. It targets and moderates emotional experiences by developing emotional awareness and cognitive flexibility; identifying emotional behaviors and replacing them with adaptive behaviors; identifying and preventing emotional avoidance; increasing awareness and exposure to physical sensations; and confronting emotions in the situation.
Category
Treatment - Other
2
Description
waitlist group: Group on the waiting list to receive integrated transdiagnostic treatment. After the follow-up sessions of the intervention groups are completed, integrated transdiagnostic treatment will be applied as in intervention group number one.
Category
Treatment - Other
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Kurdistan University Counseling Center
Full name of responsible person
Anvar Dastbaz
Street address
Pasdaran Blvd., University of Kurdistan
City
sanandaj
Province
Kurdistan
Postal code
66177-15175
Phone
+98 87 3366 6746
Email
anvardastbaz@uok.ac.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
University of Kurdistan
Full name of responsible person
Ali Akbar Mozafari
Street address
Pasdaran Blvd.
City
sanandaj
Province
Kurdistan
Postal code
66177-15175
Phone
+98 87 3362 7722
Email
a.mozafari@uok.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
University of Kurdistan
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
University of Kurdistan
Full name of responsible person
Sara Karimi
Position
Master student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Pasdaran Blvd.
City
sanandaj
Province
Kurdistan
Postal code
66177-15175
Phone
087-33664600-8
Email
sara.karimi@uok.ac.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
The University of Kurdistan
Full name of responsible person
Farzad Nasiri
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Pasdaran Blvd.
City
Sanandaj
Province
Kurdistan
Postal code
66177-15175
Phone
087-33664601-2246
Email
nasiri.uok@yahoo.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
The University of Kurdistan
Full name of responsible person
Sara Karimi
Position
Master Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Pasdaran Blvd.
City
Sanandaj
Province
Kurdistan
Postal code
66177-15175
Phone
087-33664600-8
Email
sara.karimi@uok.ac.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
Some of the data, including information related to the main outcome, can be shared.
When the data will become available and for how long
Access begins one year after results are published.
To whom data/document is available
The data will only be available to researchers working at academic institutions.
Under which criteria data/document could be used
Requests to use data are only permitted for use in cross-cultural surveys or meta-analytic studies.
From where data/document is obtainable
Researchers can apply through the aforementioned communication channel to receive the desired documents or data. Email: nasiri.uok@yahoo.com
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
The data information will be provided to individuals via email or post after the application is evaluated.