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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05829174

Comparison of Online Group Therapy Interventions for Procrastination

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of two cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) protocols for procrastination with an active control protocol including cognitive-behavioral elements and with a wait-list control group. The interventions will be delivered online in group settings. All three protocols include identical psychoeducation and cognitive modules related to procrastination, but will differ in the behavioral modules. The behavioral module in one protocol is focused on starting on time and realistic planning. The second protocol implements working time restriction. The active comparator protocol implements the pomodoro time management technique. The wait-list control group will receive one of the CBT protocols after the period of waiting. It is assumed that all active conditions will be superior to the wait-list control, and that CBT protocols will be superior to the protocol including the time management technique. Primary (procrastination) and secondary (depression and anxiety) measures will be collected prior and after the interventions (or waiting period in wait-list group) and after 6-months in the three active condition groups.

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Key information

Conditions

Procrastination

Age range

18 year–26 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Warsaw, 02-093, Poland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Bachelor's and Master's university students
  • Self-reported primary difficulties related to chronic and severe procrastination
  • Serious procrastination problem lasting for at least one year as confirmed during clinical interview
  • Having a postponed/procrastinated project to complete in the course of therapy
  • Willing to participate in the study
  • Fluent in Polish language
  • Computer access and stable Internet connection

Exclusion criteria

  • Current participation in other psychotherapy
  • Change of psychiatric medication during last 12 weeks
  • Severe anxiety or affective disorders and any other severe psychiatric disorders that require other type of specialized care and are primary to procrastination problem (e.g. major depressive episode, social phobia, PTSD, etc.)
  • Active suicidality
  • Psychosis, bipolar disorder
  • Alcohol or substance dependence
  • Severe personality disorders (with exclusion of avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders)

Treatment and study plan

Psychoeducation and cognitive modules

Behavioral

Psychoeducation and cognitive modules: what is procrastination, role of rewards, work environment, belief identification, cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention.

Behavioral module: Starting on Time and Planning Realistically

Behavioral

Learning of realistic planning, and timely starting of work.

Behavioral module: Working Time Restriction

Behavioral

Restriction of allowed time for work, and gradual increase of allowed time, if previous time windows where effectively used.

Behavioral module: Pomodoro Time Management Technique

Behavioral

Working in 25 minutes time intervals

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Polish version of the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

    Assessment of procrastination level. The Polish version of PPS consists of 12 items that evaluate procrastination conceptualized as a dysfunctional delay (e.g. "I am continually saying I'll do it tomorrow"; "I delay making decisions until it's too late"). Participants respond on a 5-point scale (1 = "very seldom or not true of me"; 2 = "seldom true of me"; 3 = "sometimes true of me"; 4 = "often true of me"; 5 = "very often true of true of me")

  2. Change in Polish version of the Aitken Procrastination Inventory (API)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

    Assessment of academic procrastination level. The Polish version of API consists of 19 items that evaluate the tendency of students to procrastinate in their academic tasks (e.g. "If I had an important project to do, I'd get started on it as quickly as possible", "Getting down to work often takes me a long time."). Participants respond on a 5-point scale (1 = "false"; 2 = "mostly false"; 3 = " sometimes false/sometimes true"; 4 = "mostly true"; 5 = "true").

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Polish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

    Assessment of depressive symptoms. The Polish version of PHQ-9 consists of 9 items that evaluate the occurrence of depressive symptoms in the last 2 weeks (e.g. "Little interest or enjoyment of your activities"). Participants respond on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = "not at all"; 1 = "on a few days"; 2 = "on more than half of the days"; 3 = "nearly every day").

  2. Change in Polish version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

    Assessment of depressive symptoms. The Polish version of GAD-7 consists of 7 items that evaluate the occurrence of anxiety and excessive worry symptoms in the last 2 weeks (e.g. "Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen"). Participants respond on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = "not at all"; 1 = "on a few days"; 2 = "on more than half of the days"; 3 = "nearly every day").

  3. Degree of completion of a particular project that the participant decided to work on during the training (e.g. a thesis, an essay, a report).

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6)

    Before and after therapy participants will be asked to assess the degree of completion of this project in percents.

Other outcomes

  1. Change in Polish version of the subscales Low work discipline and Fear of failure of the Study Problems Questionnaire (SPQ)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0) mid-treatment assessment (week 3);; post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  2. Change in Polish version of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire - Short Form (SPSRQ-SF)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  3. Change in Polish version of the Multidimensional-Multiattributional Causality Scale (MMCS)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  4. Change in Polish version of the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  5. Change in Polish version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation questionnaire (DERS)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  6. Change in Polish version of the Motivation Diagnostic Test (MDT)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  7. Change in Polish version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  8. Change in Polish version of the Metacognitive Beliefs about Procrastination Questionnaire (MBPQ)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  9. Change in Polish version of the Impulsivity Scale (UPPS-P)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0); mid-treatment assessment (week 3); post-treatment assessment (week 6); follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  10. Change in Polish version of the Self-control Scale (NAS-50)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0), mid-treatment assessment (week 3), post-treatment assessment (week 6), follow-up assessment (6 months after post-treatment assessment)

  11. Change in Polish version of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in relation to a project that the participant decided to work on during the training (e.g. a thesis, an essay, a report)

    Time frame: baseline assessment (week 0), mid-treatment assessment (week 3), post-treatment assessment (week 6)

  12. Polish version of the Group Session Rating Scale (GSRS)

    Time frame: During the treatment (after each therapy session - weeks 1-5)

  13. Polish version of the Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ)

    Time frame: After the first session (week 1)

  14. Polish version of the Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ)

    Time frame: Post-treatment (week 6)

  15. Polish version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)

    Time frame: Post-treatment (week 6)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences
  • National Science Centre, Poland
  • University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw

Registry information

Official study title

Comparison of Online Group Therapy Interventions for Procrastination: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Different Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Protocols

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 25, 2023
Registry last updated
Dec 3, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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