Internet-Delivered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) for Spanish-Speaking Adults with Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD): A Randomized Feasibility Trial
Losing a loved one is a painful process that usually diminishes over time. Despite that, one out of ten bereaved adults are at risk of developing Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapies (iCBTs) can reach individuals in need of therapy and are both cost-effective and clinically effective. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of an iCBT for Spanish-speaking individuals with PGD (GROw) compared to the same intervention delivered in a face-to-face videoconferencing format. As a secondary objective, the potential efficacy of GROw was explored. A total of 31 participants were randomized to the experimental group (N = 16) (GROw) and the active control group (N = 15) (videoconferencing treatment). There were four assessment points: baseline, after intervention, and 3- and 12-month follow-ups. Both GROw and videoconferencing treatments were well accepted in terms of preferences, expectations, satisfaction and evaluation about the usefulness of the intervention, and showed significant symptomatology reduction with large effect sizes in most of the outcomes. The dropout rate was 50% in the GROw and 33.33% in the videoconferencing group. GROw is a feasible, well-accepted iCBT for the treatment of PGD with promising results related to its potential efficacy.
Authors
- Sara Fernández-Buendía (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0860-0919)
- Jorge Grimaldos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5941-596X)
- Cintia Tur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6101-8111)
- Soledad Quero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8973-1250)
- Evaldas Kazlauskas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6654-6220)
- Laura Díaz-Sanahuja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6213-351X)
- Daniel Campos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9903-4064)
- Laura De la Coba-Cañizares
Institutions
- Universitat Jaume I (ES)
- University of Alicante (ES)
- Vilnius University (LT)
- Universidad de Zaragoza (ES)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (ES)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (ES)
- Universidad Internacional De La Rioja (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Behavioral Sciences
- Published
- 2025-09-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15101312
- Primary Topic
- Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universitat Jaume I
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- European Regional Development Fund
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación