Concept Development/ Proof-of-Concept Studies
PROTECTtraining
PROTECTtraining is a cognitive-behavioural therapy intervention for prevention of Gaming and Internet Disorder. The manualised intervention consists of four 90-minute modules. Intervention methods include psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behaviour activation, behaviour modification, and emotion regulation concerning the problem areas boredom and motivational problems, performance anxiety and procrastination, social interaction difficulties, and emotional difficulties. The concept development, evaluation of acceptance and efficacy was supported by the Dietmar-Hopp Foundation with a volume of 115,000 €.
PROTECTinfo
PROTECTinfo is a manualised intervention to promote healthy use of new media. The manualised intervention also consists of four 90-minute modules. It covers the topics mobile phone use and apps, communication in the real and virtual world, video games - opportunities and dangers, as well as cyberbullying. The development of this media education programme was supported within the BMBF project "Transfer Together" (funding volume of the partial project "Prevention of Internet Addiction": 490,989 €).
PROTECTapp
The development of the PROTECTapp aiming to change beliefs and behaviour concerning pathological internet use is also supported by the BMBF project "Transfer Together" (funding volume of the partial project "Prevention of Internet Addiction": 490,989 €). The PROTECTapp is supposed to complement face-to-face prevention and therapy programmes through an experimental approach-avoidance task that only takes a few minutes a day in order to achieve effects on change of beliefs and cognitive preoccupation and thus, facilitates behavioural change.
PROTECT3-5
PROTECT3-5 is a universal, school-based prevention programme for Gaming Disorder in third to fifth grade students. The central intervention method is a dissonance-based behavioural activation. In a 45-minute intervention targeted dissonance towards gaming is induced: Students are asked to publicly express a gaming-critical opinion in front of their class and convince a simulated patient of alternative activities (instead of gaming). Concept development and pilot testing was supported by the BMBF project "Transfer Together" (funding volume of the partial project "Prevention of Internet Addiction": 490,989 €). The implementation in everyday school life is currently supported by the Hopp Foundation for Media Literacy.
PROTECT+: Promotion: Internal research promotion by University of Education Heidelberg (Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg)
PROTECT+ is a group therapy programme for adolescents aged 12 to 18with excessive internet or gaming behaviour. It therefore represents an early intervention and builds on previous work on the prevention programme PROTECT in schools. PROTECT+ is carried out by trained psychologists in cooperation with the Center for Psychological Psychotherapy, Heidelberg University. It compromises eight sessions of 100 minutes each.
Currently, PROTECT+ is being scientifically evaluated. In a study that is funded by the internal research promotion at University of Education Heidelberg (duration: 04/2016 - 03/2019) adolescents participating in PROTECT+ are asked to fill in questionnaires and diagnostic interviews over a period of 12 months in order to test the efficacy of the programme. Furthermore, a component study investigates differentially which interventions (e.g. behaviour substitution with abstinence of gaming) achieve incremental therapy effects. Additionally, dose-effect associations are investigated.
Concept development, evaluation of acceptance and efficacy were supported by an internal research promotion at the University of Education Heidelberg with a funding volume of 39,234 €.
MOVE: Motivation and behaviour change (cooperation with the Oregon Research Institute, USA)
Within the MOVE project a dissonance-induced intervention for prevention of depressive disorders is adapted to the German-speaking area.