An online self-guided cognitive intervention for unwanted intrusive thoughts about harming infants in new parents : initial randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis
(2023) In Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 52(6). p.585-602- Abstract
Approximately one-fifth of new parents struggle with unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) about intentionally harming their child. This study evaluated the initial efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of a novel online self-guided cognitive intervention for new parents with distressing UITs. Self-recruited parents (N = 43, 93% female, age 23–43 years) of children 0–3 years reporting daily distressing and impairing UITs were randomized to the 8-week self-guided online cognitive intervention or to waiting-list. The primary outcome was change on the Parental Thoughts and Behaviour Checklist (PTBC) from baseline to week 8 (post-intervention). The PTBC and negative appraisals (mediator) were assessed at baseline, weekly, post-intervention... (More)
Approximately one-fifth of new parents struggle with unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) about intentionally harming their child. This study evaluated the initial efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of a novel online self-guided cognitive intervention for new parents with distressing UITs. Self-recruited parents (N = 43, 93% female, age 23–43 years) of children 0–3 years reporting daily distressing and impairing UITs were randomized to the 8-week self-guided online cognitive intervention or to waiting-list. The primary outcome was change on the Parental Thoughts and Behaviour Checklist (PTBC) from baseline to week 8 (post-intervention). The PTBC and negative appraisals (mediator) were assessed at baseline, weekly, post-intervention and at the 1-month follow-up. Results showed that the intervention led to statistically significant reductions in distress and impairment associated with UITs at post-intervention (controlled between-group d = 0.99, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.43), which were maintained at the 1-month follow-up (controlled between-group d = 0.90, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.39). The intervention was deemed to be feasible and acceptable by the participants. Change in negative appraisals mediated reductions in UITs but the model was sensitive to mediator-outcome confounders. We conclude that this novel online self-guided cognitive intervention can potentially reduce the distress and impairment associated with UITs in new parents. Large-scale trials are warranted. Abbreviations: UITs: Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts PTBC: Parental Thoughts and Behaviour Checklist.
(Less)
- author
- Olofsdotter Lauri, Klara ; Aspvall, Kristina ; Mataix-Cols, David LU ; Serlachius, Eva LU ; Rück, Christian and Andersson, Erik
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Cognitive therapy, internet, online intervention, parenthood, randomized controlled trial, self-help, taboo obsessions, unwanted intrusive thoughts
- in
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- volume
- 52
- issue
- 6
- pages
- 585 - 602
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:37395079
- scopus:85164162683
- ISSN
- 1650-6073
- DOI
- 10.1080/16506073.2023.2229015
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 47425d7e-fe9b-48bd-ad7d-31cb864cda9f
- date added to LUP
- 2023-10-16 14:16:28
- date last changed
- 2024-04-19 02:23:47
@article{47425d7e-fe9b-48bd-ad7d-31cb864cda9f,
abstract = {{<p>Approximately one-fifth of new parents struggle with unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) about intentionally harming their child. This study evaluated the initial efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of a novel online self-guided cognitive intervention for new parents with distressing UITs. Self-recruited parents (N = 43, 93% female, age 23–43 years) of children 0–3 years reporting daily distressing and impairing UITs were randomized to the 8-week self-guided online cognitive intervention or to waiting-list. The primary outcome was change on the Parental Thoughts and Behaviour Checklist (PTBC) from baseline to week 8 (post-intervention). The PTBC and negative appraisals (mediator) were assessed at baseline, weekly, post-intervention and at the 1-month follow-up. Results showed that the intervention led to statistically significant reductions in distress and impairment associated with UITs at post-intervention (controlled between-group d = 0.99, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.43), which were maintained at the 1-month follow-up (controlled between-group d = 0.90, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.39). The intervention was deemed to be feasible and acceptable by the participants. Change in negative appraisals mediated reductions in UITs but the model was sensitive to mediator-outcome confounders. We conclude that this novel online self-guided cognitive intervention can potentially reduce the distress and impairment associated with UITs in new parents. Large-scale trials are warranted. Abbreviations: UITs: Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts PTBC: Parental Thoughts and Behaviour Checklist.</p>}},
author = {{Olofsdotter Lauri, Klara and Aspvall, Kristina and Mataix-Cols, David and Serlachius, Eva and Rück, Christian and Andersson, Erik}},
issn = {{1650-6073}},
keywords = {{Cognitive therapy; internet; online intervention; parenthood; randomized controlled trial; self-help; taboo obsessions; unwanted intrusive thoughts}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{6}},
pages = {{585--602}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Cognitive Behaviour Therapy}},
title = {{An online self-guided cognitive intervention for unwanted intrusive thoughts about harming infants in new parents : initial randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2023.2229015}},
doi = {{10.1080/16506073.2023.2229015}},
volume = {{52}},
year = {{2023}},
}