Group-based IMPROVE Therapy for Problematic Internet Use in University Students

Problematic internet use (PIU) is a growing behavioral health concern among university students. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and psychological mechanisms of "IMPROVE," a manualized, multimodal group-based psychotherapy. The IMPROVE program integrates cognitive-behavioral strategies with motivational elements, mindfulness training, and socially interactive exercise. In this randomized controlled trial, 600 university students with moderate to severe PIU will be randomized to either the 8-week IMPROVE intervention or an enhanced waitlist control group. The primary outcome is the change in PIU severity, assessed by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) score, from baseline to the post-intervention endpoint (8 weeks).

NCT Number	NCT07434778
Lead Sponsor	Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
Conditions	Problematic Internet Use
Enrollment	600 participants
Start Date	2026-03-17
Primary Completion	2027-06 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-06 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-08-05