The effect for Japanese workers of a self-help computerized cognitive behaviour therapy program with a supplement soft drink

Abstract

Background: Computerized cognitive behaviour therapy (CCBT) programs can provide a useful self-help approach to the treatment of psychological problems. Previous studies have shown that CCBT has moderate effects on depression, insomnia, and anxiety. The present study investigated whether a supplement drink that includes L-carnosine enhances the effect of CCBT on psychological well-being.

Methods: Eighty-seven participants were randomly allocated to a control group, CCBT, or CCBT with supplement drink. The CCBT and CCBT with supplement drink groups received six weekly self-help CCBT program instalments, which consisted of psycho-education about stress management and coping, behaviour activation, and cognitive restructuring. The CCBT group consumed a bottle of the supplement soft drink every morning through the 6 weeks. This program was delivered by an e-learning system on demand and also included a self-help guidebook. Seventy-two participants completed the program or were assess at the end of the study.

Results: ANOVA revealed that there were significant interactions (times × groups) for POMS tension-anxiety and fatigue. The CCBT group showed significantly improved tension-anxiety scores, whereas the CCBT with drink group showed significant improvements on fatigue.

Conclusion: The self-help CCBT program reduced the subjective experience of tension-anxiety in this group of workers. The addition of a supplement drink enhanced the effect of CCBT on fatigue, providing one possible approach to enhancement of such programs.

Trial registration: This study was registered on September 2, 2016 at UMIN. The registration number is UMIN000023903.

Keywords: Computerized cognitive behaviour therapy; L-carnosine; Self-help; Workplace.

Fig. 1

Participation flow chart. This flow chart shows the transition of participants. Ninety-six people signed up to participate. Before the start of the program an informed consent session was held, the purpose and procedures of the study were explained, and 96 participants provided their written informed consent. After the informed consent session, three people were excluded due to exclusion criteria and six people declined to participate. The remaining 87 employees were randomly allocated to a control group (n = 29), self-help CBT group (n = 29), or self-help CBT with supplement drink group (n = 29). Of the 87, 80 completed the relevant program and the pre- and post- sets of questionnaires. We also excluded two participants who did not complete weekly tasks and failed to submit weekly homework sheets. Additionally, six participants were excluded because they did not complete the post-questionnaires. At the end of the study, we analysed the data of 72 completers (control group: n = 23, CBT group: n = 25, CBT with supplement drink group: n = 24)

Fig. 2

POMS-TA score change. POMS, Profile of mood states; TA, Tension-anxiety. The graph shows significant interaction between group and time of assessment for POMS TA (F(2, 69) = 3.04,p = .05). Post hoc tests using the Bonferroni method revealed that the CBT group significantly improved on POMS-TA (p < .05)

Fig. 3

POMS-F scores change. POMS, Profile of mood states; F, Fatigue. There was significant interaction between group and time of assessment for POMS-F (F(2, 69) = 5.01,p < .01). Post hoc tests using the Bonferroni method revealed that the CBT with drink group significantly improved on POMS-F (p < .01)