Internet-based CBT for somatic symptom distress (iSOMA) in emerging adults: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Persistent somatic symptom distress is common in emerging adults and is associated with adverse health outcomes and impairment. Internet-based interventions could help to prevent burden and chronicity. This randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of a guided, cognitive-behavioral internet intervention for somatic symptom distress (iSOMA) in emerging adults at risk for somatic symptom disorder compared to a waitlist control condition. METHOD: = 156 analyzed; 24.53 years, 83.3% female) with multiple somatic symptoms were recruited among German-speaking universities and randomly allocated to either receive the 8-week iSOMA intervention with psychologist support or the waitlist, both with access to treatment as usual. Primary outcomes were somatic symptom distress Patient Health Questionnaire, somatic symptom scale (PHQ-15) and psychobehavioral features of somatic symptom disorder-12 (SSD-12), assessed at baseline and 8-weeks postrandomization. Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, illness worries, functional impairment, and attitudes toward psychological treatment. Satisfaction with iSOMA was high (91.0%), most participants (72.8%) completed at least 4 of 7 modules and negative treatment effects were infrequent (14.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Our intervention had a substantial positive impact on somatic symptom distress across a broad range of persistent physical symptoms in a vulnerable target group, opening up promising possibilities for indicative prevention and blended care for somatic symptom disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).