Effectiveness of an Online Religiously-integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based Intervention on Death Anxiety

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

44 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-06-01

Study Completion Date

2025-12-01

Brief Summary

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There has been growing awareness of the importance of death anxiety (DA) in pathological anxiety. DA is defined as a persistent and unreasonable fear of death and thoughts, fears, and emotions associated with the end of life. DA has been suggested as a core fear that underpins the emergence and perseverance of numerous anxiety disorders. However, previous DA-based treatment studies focus on the elderly, the patients, or health professionals who care for the terminally ill. Therefore, there is a need to examine the effect of psychological interventions on DA and current disorder symptoms in a clinical sample through randomized controlled trials. The current study aims to develop a novel Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RCBT)-based intervention on DA in individuals diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and to compare the effectiveness of RCBT-based intervention with classical CBT-based intervention.

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Detailed Description

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Religion facilitates the pursuit of symbolic immortality by providing individuals with purpose and hope in both life and death. Those who believe in an afterlife also see their world as fairer, which results in lower levels of psychiatric symptoms. Previous CBT-based death anxiety interventions did not consider the assumption of an afterlife. RCBT is an approach that integrates spiritual or religious beliefs into the therapeutic process. RCBT is an approach that recognizes the importance of spirituality or religion in a client's life and aims to use these beliefs and practices positively within the context of evidence-based CBT. Briefly, no intervention studies have investigated the effect of RCBT on DA. This will be the first study to develop an RCBT-based intervention for DA.

Conditions

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Death Anxiety

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This study employs a parallel assignment design, where participants are randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group to compare treatment effects.

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Participants will be blinded to whether they are receiving religiously integrated CBT (RCBT) or classic CBT. Additionally, the outcomes assessor will be blinded to participants' pre- and post-treatment scale scores. However, the therapist conducting the intervention will be aware of the treatment allocation. Therefore, the study follows a single-blind design.

Study Groups

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Religiously Integrated CBT Group

Participants will receive a novel online RCBT-based intervention consisting of 7 weekly 90-minute sessions in a group format.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Religiously-integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

This study aims to assess the efficacy and feasibility of a newly developed online intervention for death anxiety based on Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RCBT). Building upon the framework of Furer and Walker's 2008 intervention protocol, this adaptation incorporates beliefs in an afterlife, aligning with Turkish society's cultural and religious values.

The RCBT intervention consists of seven structured group therapy sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The program is designed to help participants identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts related to death anxiety while integrating religious resources to promote cognitive restructuring. Key components of the intervention include psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure exercises, the concept of repentance in the context of trust and belief in the afterlife, gratitude, and value-oriented behaviors.

Classical CBT Group

Participants will receive an online CBT intervention based on Furer and Walker's (2008) protocol, consisting of 7 weekly 90-minute sessions in a group format.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Classical Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

The standard CBT intervention follows the structured protocol developed by Furer and Walker (2008), which targets cognitive distortions, avoidance behaviors, and excessive safety-seeking behaviors contributing to death anxiety. The researcher has adapted the session content to fit the protocol's core components while maintaining fidelity to the original intervention model. Sessions last 90 minutes and are conducted in an online group format.

Session Structure: Session 1: Treatment Rationale, Session 2: Reducing Excessive Checking, Reassurance Seeking, and Safety Behaviors, Session 3: Exposure, Session 4: Cognitive Reappraisal, Session 5: Enhancing Enjoyment of Life, Session 6: Healthy Lifestyle, and Session 7: Relapse Prevention.

Interventions

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Religiously-integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This study aims to assess the efficacy and feasibility of a newly developed online intervention for death anxiety based on Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RCBT). Building upon the framework of Furer and Walker's 2008 intervention protocol, this adaptation incorporates beliefs in an afterlife, aligning with Turkish society's cultural and religious values.

The RCBT intervention consists of seven structured group therapy sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The program is designed to help participants identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts related to death anxiety while integrating religious resources to promote cognitive restructuring. Key components of the intervention include psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure exercises, the concept of repentance in the context of trust and belief in the afterlife, gratitude, and value-oriented behaviors.

Intervention Type OTHER

Classical Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

The standard CBT intervention follows the structured protocol developed by Furer and Walker (2008), which targets cognitive distortions, avoidance behaviors, and excessive safety-seeking behaviors contributing to death anxiety. The researcher has adapted the session content to fit the protocol's core components while maintaining fidelity to the original intervention model. Sessions last 90 minutes and are conducted in an online group format.

Session Structure: Session 1: Treatment Rationale, Session 2: Reducing Excessive Checking, Reassurance Seeking, and Safety Behaviors, Session 3: Exposure, Session 4: Cognitive Reappraisal, Session 5: Enhancing Enjoyment of Life, Session 6: Healthy Lifestyle, and Session 7: Relapse Prevention.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Aged 18-65
* A score of \> 26 on the Turkish Death Anxiety Scale
* Diagnosed with one of the anxiety disorders
* Believing in life after death

Exclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and delusional disorder
* Being in an active manic episode
* Possessing a mental disorder that interferes with completing measures or understanding the exercises conducted during sessions
* Extreme symptoms of depression (score of \> 20 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and \>1 on the item assessing suicidality)
* Currently receiving therapy.

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No