Effect of a Brief Problem Management Intervention on Anxiety and Depression Arising from COVID-19-Related Financial Stress

INTERVENTION: There are two arms to this trial. Arm 1: Problem Management Plus. Arm 2: Enhanced Treatment as Usual. Therapy is administered once‐weekly 60 minute sessions by clinical psychologists over 7 weeks delivered via teleconferencing to groups of 4 people at a time. Problem Management Plus is a program developed by the World Health Organization. Across sessions the clinical psychologist will teach the following stress coping strategies: anxiety reduction, problem solving, mood improvement strategies, worry management, and accessing social support. This will occur will via educational sessions, group discussions via teleconference, and app‐based homework assignments. Homework will include mood monitoring, prompts to engage in positive activities, prompts to engage in social interaction, and prompts to limit worry time. App analytic data will measure adherence to homework tasks. Clinical psychologists will be trained by the WHO author of PM+, and will be supplemented by completion of conducting practice groups under supervision. The duration of the study for any participant will conclude after a 6‐month follow‐up assessment, resulting in participation duration of 33 weeks. CONDITION: Anxiety;Depression;COVID‐19; ; Anxiety ; Depression ; COVID‐19 Infection ‐ Other infectious diseases Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Depression Respiratory ‐ Other respiratory disorders / diseases PRIMARY OUTCOME: Anxiety and depression represent a composite primary outcome, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. [Pretreatment (week 1), posttreatment (week 7), primary follow‐up (week 19), additional follow‐up (week 59). ] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Health related quality of life will be measured using Australian Quality of Life [Pretreatment (week 1), posttreatment (week 7), follow‐up (week 19), additional follow‐up (week 59). ] Labour productivity will be assessed using the iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire [Pretreatment (week 1), posttreatment (week 7), follow‐up (week 19), additional follow‐up (week 59). ] Positive affect as measured by the Pleasure Scale. [Pretreatment (week 1), posttreatment (week 7), follow‐up (week 19), additional follow‐up (week 59). ] Suicidal ideation as measured by the Scale for Suicidal Ideation. [Pretreatment (week 1), posttreatment (week 7), follow‐up (week 19), additional follow‐up (week 59). ] Worry as measured by the Generalized Anxiety DIsorder 7. [Pretreatment (week 1), posttreatment (week 7), follow‐up (week 19), additional follow‐up (week 59). ] INCLUSION CRITERIA: INCLUSION CRITERIA: • Score of greater than or equal to 3 on the General Health Questionnaire • Aged at least 18 years • Sufficient English language comprehension • Access to teleconferencing platform