Adaptive actions and treatment outcomes in transdiagnostic ICBT for chronic health conditions

Full publication title:

Adaptive actions and treatment outcomes in transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic health conditions

Authors: Hadjistavropoulos, H. D., Peynenburg, V., Philipp-Muller, A. E., Nomeikaite, A., Titov, N., Dear, B. F., & Staples, L.

Why was the study done?

In this study, we examined changes in adaptive actions during Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) for people living with chronic health conditions. Adaptive actions are everyday behaviours that support psychological wellbeing, such as:

  • Healthy thinking
  • Engaging in meaningful activities
  • Setting goals and making plans
  • Maintaining healthy habits
  • Staying socially connected

 

What was done in the study?

We asked:

  • Do adaptive behaviours increase during ICBT?
  • Are these changes maintained over time?
  • Are changes in behaviour linked to improvements in symptoms?

What did we find out?

We found that adaptive actions increased during treatment and were maintained at follow-up. Importantly, increases in these behaviours were associated with improvements in depression, anxiety and pain interference.

Where do we go from here?

The findings suggest that behavioural changes may be an important mechanism of change in ICBT, including for individuals with chronic health conditions, where functional limitations can make these actions more difficult.

Reference

Hadjistavropoulos, H. D., Peynenburg, V., Philipp-Muller, A. E., Nomeikaite, A., Titov, N., Dear, B. F., & Staples, L. (2025). Adaptive action and treatment outcomes in transdiagnostic Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic health conditions. Internet Interventions, 44, 100930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2026.100930

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