Piloting and Evaluating the Fundamental Adaptive Skills Training (FAST): a New Digitally Augmented Single-Session Transdiagnostic Resilience Intervention
Florida State University
Summary
The present study seeks to develop, refine, and test a novel psychological treatment for boosting mental health resilience among college students. This Fundamental Adaptive Skills Training (FAST) will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. We will seek to recruit 5 undergraduate students as participants for a pilot phase and 100 undergraduate students for a randomized controlled trial. The primary questions we are seeking to answer in this trial are: Do participants rate the FAST intervention as acceptable? Does FAST improve sleep quality, physical activity, anxiety sensitivity, loneliness, and social isolation for college students? Participants will: Receive the active FAST or a placebo control Relaxation and Mindfulness Training (RMT) and will complete measures at baseline, week 2, and week 4.
Description
The mental health crisis among college students has intensified in recent years, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and stress. Despite increased institutional efforts, existing mental health services often remain inaccessible or insufficient. The present study proposes and evaluates the Fundamental Adaptive Skills Training (FAST), a novel, single-session intervention designed to promote mental health resilience in college students. FAST will be developed to target empirically supported mechanisms-sleep and physical activity, anxiety sensitivity, loneliness, and social isolation-each li…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18+ * At-risk for emotional disorders as indicated by a PANAS-NA Score \>= 20 * Ability to use a computer or smartphone * Currently enrolled at college/university at the time of study enrollment Exclusion criteria: * Adults aged 17 and under * PANAS-NA Score \<= 19 * Inability to use a computer or smartphone * Not currently enrolled at college/university at the time of study enrollment
Interventions
- BehavioralFundamental Adaptive Skills Training
The FAST intervention will be approximately 60 minutes in duration. The video component of FAST, animated using the Vyond software, will be presented via computer or projector. Pause points and brief interactive exercises will be added throughout the presentation to promote engagement and ensure comprehension of FAST material. The treatment will be sectioned into thirds: a physical health section focused on sleep hygiene and physical activity, an anxiety sensitivity section dispelling common AS myths, and a social health section. Each section will contain brief psychoeducation focused on dispelling common myths or promoting adaptive skills use.
- BehavioralRelaxation and Mindfulness Training
The RMT intervention will be primarily psychoeducational and focused on explaining relaxation methods used in various psychological treatments such as progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and mindfulness-focused breathing exercises. Interactive relaxation and mindfulness exercises and brief discussions following each relaxation component will be included to control for time spent on interactive exercises in the FAST condition. The intervention will take approximately 60 minutes. Tailored to control for the effects of general education, practice exercises, and time spent on the FAST intervention, RMT will be a stronger control in comparison to a waitlist or repeated contact condition. Like the FAST intervention, this program will also be digitalized to allow for ease-of-administration.
Location
- FSU Anxiety and Behavioral Health ClinicTallahassee, Florida