title: A randomized controlled trial of a self-guided, multimedia, stress management and resilience training program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stress is a common and costly behavioral health issue. Technology-based behavioral health programs (e.g., computer or web-based programs) are effective for treating anxiety or depression. These programs increase availability of evidence-based interventions to individuals who are not able or willing to receive such in-person treatments. Stress management training has empirical support, but little data exists on its efficacy with stressed but healthy individuals, and there are no prior studies employing a self-guided, multimedia intervention. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a self-guided, multimedia stress management and resilience training program (SMART-OP) with a stressed but healthy sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 66) were randomized to SMART-OP or an attention control (AC) group that received marketed videos and published material on stress management. Participants were evaluated on self-report measures and Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) performance. Analyses were based on study completers (N = 59).
  
  
  RESULTS
  SMART-OP group reported significantly less stress, more perceived control over stress, and rated SMART-OP as significantly more useful than AC. During the TSST, the data suggests the SMART-OP group showed greater within-task α-amylase recovery at post-assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SMART-OP is highly usable and is a more effective and useful stress management training program than an educational comparison.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA 900095-1563, USA. rose@psych.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Raphael D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Jay C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Buckey
authors.forename: Tomislav D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Zbozinek
authors.forename: Sarosh J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Motivala
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cartreine
authors.forename: Michelle G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Craske
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019212:Multimedia; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*