Short Online Therapy Interventions Show Promise in Reducing Youth Mental Health Issues

Recent research conducted at Karolinska Institutet introduces two concise digital interventions aimed at preventing and alleviating mental health challenges among adolescents and their parents. These low-threshold online programs are designed to be accessible within primary care settings and align with young people's preference for combining digital content with personal interactions. A pilot study published in JAMA Network Open demonstrates that participants responded positively and experienced potential mental health benefits from the interventions.

The study highlights the critical need for simple and scalable solutions to bridge the gap created by lengthy waiting lists and uneven access to mental health treatment for young individuals. Johan Bjureberg, an associate professor involved in the research, emphasizes that digital interventions can offer an effective way to support young people at risk of anxiety, depression, and self-harm, especially as difficulties in emotional regulation, stress, and social challenges increase.

In the study, 30 adolescents aged 12 to 17 with mild to moderate mental health issues participated alongside their parents. They were randomly assigned to two different digital intervention formats. Both involved weekly interactions with therapists through chat and video calls, complemented by independent work with digital materials. One intervention focused primarily on understanding and managing emotions, while the other provided psychoeducation and supportive digital contact aimed at helping adolescents identify strategies to improve their well-being, guided by therapists. Parents also benefited from participating in online parenting courses.

The initial results suggest that the interventions are well-received, easy to access, and show promising signs of reducing maladaptive behavior and emotional difficulties. As Katja Sjöblom, a psychologist leading ongoing research, states, larger multicenter trials are underway to confirm these findings. The ongoing POET study, which is recruiting across Sweden, aims to include hundreds of families, potentially shaping future mental health support for young people.

Overall, these brief digital approaches could transform early intervention strategies, providing timely and efficient mental health support for adolescents and their families. The full study details are available in JAMA Network Open, authored by Katja Sjöblom et al., and further research is ongoing to optimize and expand these innovative treatments.