Brief Digital CBT for Mood and Anxiety Symptoms in Acute Psychiatric Inpatients

Psychiatric inpatients expect more psychosocial intervention during their inpatient stay than they receive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, existing interventions have been further reduced. Mood and anxiety symptoms are common for all inpatients across diagnostic categories. Studies have shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be effective for treating these symptoms among inpatients. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Mindshift CBT app (an app based on principles of cognitive behavioural therapy) is an acceptable, feasible, and useable intervention for inpatients.

The Mindshift CBT app is a tool designed and maintained by Anxiety Canada. It includes tools for daily mood check-ins, healthy thinking, calming intense emotions, and taking actions to change behaviours associated with anxiety and low mood. It also includes information about the common types of anxiety.

The proposed trial includes 12 patients per arm. All participants in control and intervention groups will have access to assigned tablet devices throughout the study period, though only those in the intervention group will have the MindShift CBT app on their device. All participants will undergo assessments at baseline and at the end of the intervention period (1 week).

Inclusion criteria

• Admitted to the acute inpatient unit
• Fluent in English
• Dynamic Appraisal for Situational Aggression (DASA) score <=3
• Capable to consent to participation as assessed by the treating physician

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of moderate-severe learning disability
• Diagnosis of moderate-severe neurocognitive disorder