Online therapy for putting things off kept people's gains for a year

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   150 adults in Sweden who signed up after media adverts and had long-lasting, severe trouble putting things off. Their average age was about 39, and 45% were women.

2. 02

   What they did

   Everyone got ten weekly online modules of therapy that challenges unhelpful thoughts, with exercises. In the guided group a therapist sent written feedback within 48 hours. The unguided group had the modules alone, and the waiting group started them after the first 10 weeks.

3. 03

   What happened

   A year later, people in both groups still had less trouble putting things off than at the start. The guided and unguided groups did about the same on every measure. Improvement was 36% in the guided group and 25% in the unguided group. Up to a third of people were lost before the one-year check. Those who stayed were older and more often had a university degree.

What the study found

1. No comparison

   A year after the online course, people put things off less than they had at the start.

   • Action: Learn how the problem worksused
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtsused

   Randomised trial of 150 adults with severe procrastination in Sweden · no comparison group · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out

2. No difference

   Adding written feedback from a therapist to the online course gave no better results a year on.

   • Rule: With a coach or therapisttested
   • Action: Learn how the problem worksused
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtsused

   Randomised trial of 150 adults with severe procrastination in Sweden · vs the same course with no therapist · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out

Source