Some adolescents experience periods of anxiety and/or depression, and some find that these periods return over time. The purpose of this study is to examine whether digital interventions—where individuals work systematically with their own thoughts and feelings during periods when they feel well—can help them maintain well-being for longer.
The study includes adolescents aged 16–19 who have previously experienced episodes of depression and/or anxiety to a degree that led them to seek help (e.g., from a school nurse, general practitioner, health clinic, or child and adolescent mental health service). Through a research app on their smartphones, participants complete tasks and answer questionnaires. The study is fully digital. Some participants meet with a therapist in digital group sessions, while others work independently with the digital content.
We will also examine the cost–benefit aspects of offering such interventions. If the study achieves its goals, digital interventions may eventually become a service offered to adolescents recovering from depression and anxiety.
The study is led by the University of Oslo and is a collaboration between private and public stakeholders.
