Online Group Natural Psychotherapy Compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Anxiety in Chinese University Students Aged 18 to 30

What This Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of Natural Psychotherapy NPT compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT in reducing anxiety symptoms in university students aged 18 to 30. The study aims to find out if weekly online group sessions of NPT can lower anxiety symptoms and how it compares to CBT. NPT integrates Japanese Morita therapy and traditional Chinese culture, focusing on facing and accepting pain as part of treatment. Participants will join one of two online group programs lasting four weeks. The Natural Psychotherapy group follows weekly themes centered on enduring and accepting pain, and seeking challenges to build coping skills. The CBT group participates in structured weekly sessions teaching anxiety mechanisms, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral experiments, with homework assignments each week. Both groups have a consolidation week to plan for future relapse prevention. During the study, participants complete online questionnaires assessing anxiety and depression before starting, after the first week, after four weeks, and at an eight-week follow-up. Researchers will monitor responses using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment GAD-7 and the Beck Depression Inventory BDI. The total participation includes the 4-week intervention and an additional 4-week follow-up period to assess lasting effects.

Efficacy and Underlying Mechanisms of Group Natural Psychotherapy for Anxiety Symptoms