Examining the effectiveness of a web-based intervention for symptoms of depression and/ or anxiety

INTERVENTION: The intervention will be a guided web‐based transdiagnostic intervention targeted at symptoms of depression and/ or anxiety. The intervention consists of 7 online sessions with duration ranging from 4 to 7 weeks depending on individual progress. A booster session will be administered after the completion of the 7th online session. CONDITION: Anxiety, Depression ; ; PRIMARY OUTCOME: Primary outcomes are the Patient health questionnaire (PHQ‐9) for depression, the Generalised Anxiety Disorder ‐ 7 items scale (GAD‐7) for anxiety and the Mini ‐ International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Secondary outcomes are the EuroQol ‐ 5 Dimensions (EQ‐5D) for the quality of life and the Client satisfaction with treatment ‐ 8 items questionnaire (CSQ‐8). In addition, university dropout and educational achievement will be assessed. INCLUSION CRITERIA: n order to be eligible to participate in this RCT, a subject must meet all of the following criteria: (a) Participation who have given their consent to be contacted after completing an online survey assessing their mental health. (b) Being 18 years of age or older (c) Being enrolled as first‐year student in the universities of VU or UvA (d) Speak Dutch or English fluently (e) Students who experience mild to moderate depression (as defining by scoring above the cut‐off score of 4 on the Patient health questionnaire [PhQ‐9]) and/ or anxiety symptoms (as defining by scoring above the cut‐off score of 4 on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale – 7 items [GAD – 7]) (f) Provide informed consent before participation