IRCT | Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing internet addiction, sleep quality, and mental health among students of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch.

Protocol summary

Study aim: Determining the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing internet addiction, sleep quality, and mental health
Design: This study is designed as a randomized clinical trial with two parallel groups (15 participants). The experimental group will receive a structured CBT intervention, the control group will receive no intervention. Participant allocation will be done by block randomization (block size 4) and through sealed envelopes.
Settings and conduct: This study is a clinical trial conducted on students of Ahvaz Azad University. The samples are randomly divided into two intervention groups (receiving CBT) and control, and data are collected with standard questionnaires. The outcome assessor is blinded to the grouping of the samples to avoid bias.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Entry requirements: Be Iranian and resident of Ahvaz city, be a student, have a smartphone, have at least one year of creating an account on social networks such as Instagram, etc., age 18 to 25 years. Exclusion criteria: Be under psychiatric treatment due to mental health problems, be addicted to drugs, psychotropic drugs, alcohol, or abuse medication.
Intervention groups: Intervention group (experiment): This group will receive a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention protocol specifically designed to reduce Internet addiction. The intervention will consist of structured sessions (e.g., 8 to 10 weekly 90-minute sessions) that cover topics such as time management, identifying cognitive distortions, improving communication skills, and emotion regulation. Control group: This group will not receive any active intervention during the study period.
Main outcome variables: Internet addiction, sleep quality, mental health

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information: IRCT registration number: IRCT20250611066182N1

Registration date: 2025-09-05, 1404/06/14

Registration timing: prospective

Last update: 2025-09-05, 1404/06/14

Update count: 0
Registration date: 2025-09-05, 1404/06/14

Registrant information: Name

Nahid Saeedinasb

Name of organization / entity

Country

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Phone

+98 61 4352 1611

Email address

nahid.saeedinasb@gmail.com

Recruitment status: Recruitment complete
Funding source

Expected recruitment start date: 2025-09-21, 1404/06/30
Expected recruitment end date: 2026-03-21, 1405/01/01
Actual recruitment start date: empty
Actual recruitment end date: empty
Trial completion date: empty

Scientific title: Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing internet addiction, sleep quality, and mental health among students of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch.

Public title: Cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing internet addiction, sleep quality, and mental health
Purpose: Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Inclusion criteria:

Be Iranian and a resident of Ahvaz city Be a student Have a smartphone Have at least one year of creating an account on social networks such as Instagram, etc. Be between 18 and 25 years of age.

Exclusion criteria:

Addiction to narcotics, psychotropic substances, alcohol, or medication abuse Are under psychiatric treatment due to mental health problems
Age: From 18 years old to 25 years old
Gender: Both

Phase

N/A

Groups that have been masked

Outcome assessor
Data analyser

Sample size

Target sample size: 30

Randomization (investigator's opinion)

Randomized

Randomization description

This study used a block randomization method with a block size of 4. The sequence of group allocation (experimental/control) was generated using Excel software and protected in sealed envelopes. After screening and obtaining consent, participants were assigned to groups based on the order of arrival and opening of the envelopes.

Blinding (investigator's opinion)

Single blinded

Blinding description

In this study, due to the non-blinded nature of the intervention (cognitive-behavioral therapy), only the Outcome Assessor and Data Analyst will be blinded. After random assignment of participants to the experimental and control groups, the assessor, who is responsible for collecting post-test and follow-up data, will not be aware of the purpose of the study and the type of group assignment of the participants. The data will be provided to him/her in coded form (without group identifiers). Also, the data analyst will perform statistical analysis without knowing the grouping of the samples to avoid any bias.

Placebo

Not used

Assignment

Parallel

Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee: Name of ethics committee

Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz

Street address

Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway

City

Ahvaz

Province

Khouzestan

Postal code

3733361349
Approval date: 2025-06-07, 1404/03/17
Ethics committee reference number: IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1404.165

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied: Internet addiction
ICD-10 code: F51.9
ICD-10 code description: Sleep disorder not due to a substance or known physiological condition, unspecified

Primary outcomes

1

Description: Internet addiction
Timepoint: Pretest (before the intervention), posttest (immediately after the intervention), and follow-up (at least 2 months after the intervention).
Method of measurement: Young's Internet Addiction Questionnaire

Secondary outcomes

1

Description: Sleep quality
Timepoint: Pre-test (before the intervention), post-test (immediately after the completion of the 8-week intervention), and follow-up (2 months after the completion of the intervention).
Method of measurement: Pittsburgh Standardized Sleep Quality Questionnaire

2

Description: Mental health
Timepoint: Pre-test (before the intervention), post-test (immediately after the completion of the 8-week intervention), and follow-up (2 months after the completion of the intervention).
Method of measurement: Standardized General Health Questionnaire

Intervention groups

1

Description: Intervention group: 15 eligible students will receive a structured cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol. The intervention will consist of 8 90-minute sessions (one session per week) with educational content and practical exercises to manage internet addiction, improve sleep quality, and improve mental health.
Category: N/A

2

Description: Control group: Fifteen eligible students who do not receive any active intervention and will only be assessed at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up will be included. In order to comply with ethical considerations, if the intervention is effective, similar training will be provided to this group after the study is completed.
Category: N/A

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center: Name of recruitment center

Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch

Full name of responsible person

Narges Heydarianfar

Street address

Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway

City

Ahvaz

Province

Khouzestan

Postal code

3733361349

Phone

+98 61 3334 8421

Email

info@iauahvaz.ac.ir

1

Sponsor: Name of organization / entity

Islamic Azad University

Full name of responsible person

Pejman Taghipour Birgani

Street address

Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway

City

Ahvaz

Province

Khouzestan

Postal code

3733361349

Phone

+98 61 3334 8421

Email

info@iauahvaz.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?: Yes
Title of funding source: Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source: 100
Public or private sector: Public
Domestic or foreign origin: Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding: empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding: Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact: Name of organization / entity

Islamic Azad University

Full name of responsible person

Narges Heydarianfar

Position

Associate professor

Latest degree

Ph.D.

Other areas of specialty/work

Psychology

Street address

Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway

City

Ahvaz

Province

Khouzestan

Postal code

3733361349

Phone

+98 61 3334 8421

Email

info@iauahvaz.ac.ir

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact: Name of organization / entity

Islamic Azad University

Full name of responsible person

Narges Heydarianfar

Position

Associate professor

Latest degree

Ph.D.

Other areas of specialty/work

Psychology

Street address

Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway

City

Ahvaz

Province

Khouzestan

Postal code

3733361349

Phone

+98 61 3334 8421

Email

info@iauahvaz.ac.ir

Person responsible for updating data

Contact: Name of organization / entity

Islamic Azad University

Full name of responsible person

Nahid Saeedinasb

Position

Student

Latest degree

Bachelor

Other areas of specialty/work

Psychology

Street address

No. 17, Second North Alley, West Mehdi Street, Chevil Street

City

Izeh

Province

Khouzestan

Postal code

3733361349

Phone

+98 61 4352 1611

Fax

Email

info@iauahvaz.ac.ir

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD): Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol: Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan: Not applicable
Informed Consent Form: Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report: Not applicable
Analytic Code: Not applicable
Data Dictionary: Not applicable

Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing internet addiction, sleep quality, and mental health among students of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch.