BrainMap

Mrs. Anca Dobrean

Ph.D

- UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer | Manager | PhD supervisor

Expertise & keywords

Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety in Adolescents: towards a Precision Treatment based on Idiographic Network Analysis Call name: P 5.1 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie - Competiția 2023
PN-IV-P1-PCE-2023-1950 2025 - 2027

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website:

Abstract:

Social anxiety disorder (SoAD) is a prevalent mental health problem among adolescents that poses significant difficulties for youths functioning. The current treatments have low efficacy, only 22.3% of adolescents with a primary diagnosis of SoAD achieved remission. The main limitations of current psychological treatments for adolescents SoAD consists in: (a) a lack of personalization at an individual level in the context of high heterogeneity of manifestation and mechanism; (b) lack of a data approach to guide the treatment targets selection and (c) limited access to evidence-based mental health care. The solution to these caveats is to advance to precision treatments, personalized for each adolescent, using a data driven approach (idiographic network analysis) and online delivery. Therefore, the current proposal aims to (a) develop the first online Cognitive Behavioral precision treatment for adolescents with SoAD, based on network models and (b) test its usability, clinical efficacy, mechanisms of change as well as cost-effectiveness. Based on idiographic network analysis, conducted on longitudinal intensive data, we will identify the most central symptoms for each individual, that will further represent the target for intervention. Through this approach, changes in the structure and the connectivity of the individual network (estimated through EMA) from pre to post treatment will be estimated and will be analyzed in correlation with changes in symptoms/mechanism of SoAD.

Optimizing parental digital mental health interventions for ADHD: insights from network analysis Call name: P 5.2 - SP 5.2.1 - Proiecte de cercetare pentru stimularea tinerelor echipe independente - Competiția 2023
PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-0894 2025 - 2026

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website:

Abstract:

Tulburarea cu deficit de atenție/hiperactivitate (ADHD) reprezintă una dintre cele mai răspândite probleme de sănătate mintală în rândul copiilor fiind asociată cu costuri semnificative atât pentru familiile acestor copii, cât și pentru societate. În ciuda existenței unor tratamente validate științific, intervențiile parentale comportamentale (BPT) reprezentând tratamente de primă linie pentru copiii preșcolari cu ADHD conform ghidurilor clinice, există un decalaj enorm în accesul la tratament. Intervențiile digitale de sănătate mintală au potențialul de a depăși barierele în accesul la tratament, cu toate acestea, cercetările privind eficiența unor astfel de intervenții pentru părinții copiilor cu ADHD sunt încă la început. Scopul acestui proiect este de a dezvolta și evalua o intervenție personalizată livrată prin intermediul Internetului pentru părinții copiilor preșcolari cu simptome crescute de ADHD, bazată pe o abordare bazată pe analiza de rețea. Impactul potențial al eforturilor de intervenție timpurie în tratamentul ADHD asupra traiectoriei simptomatologiei pe parcursul dezvoltării este substanțial. Mai mult, prin acest proiect ne propunem să aducem contribuții semnificative în ceea ce privește utilizarea instrumentelor digitale în tratamentul ADHD, precum şi în adoptarea unei abordări inovative în înţelegerea şi planificarea intervenţiilor cu un grad înalt de personalizare pentru părinţii copiilor cu ADHD.

PainCare: a technology-based intervention for relieving postoperative pain Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare Postdoctorală - PD-2021
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2021-0661 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://georgescuralucadia.wixsite.com/painproject

Abstract:

Although surgeries have the potential to save lives, an unavoidable side effect of any surgical procedure is the pain associated during and after the intervention. Traditionally, the main line of postoperative pain management was dominated by the pharmacological approach. However, this approach of treatment was associated with risky side effects and contributed to the opioid crisis. One important step for improving postoperative pain management is to implement multimodal interventions (i.e., pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical strategies) and “minimal use” or “opioid-sparing” analgesic strategies. To date, the most efficient nonpharmacological strategies were retained when techniques (distraction, relaxation) rooted in Cognitive Behavior Therapy were implemented through technology (i.e., Virtual Reality). However, their effect is limited to the moment of application. As such, for preventing chronic postoperative pain we need to augment these interventions with components which are targeting the mechanism of pain perpetuation. For this to happen, an important step is to quantify the magnitude of the association between cognitive vulnerabilities (i.e., pain catastrophizing) for increased pain intensity and further to transfer this knowledge into interventions for these vulnerabilities. As such, interventions will be better adapted for rapid effects while considering the questions needed to answer in relation to the pain mechanism.

Friends4Me - Development and effectiveness of a chatbot based assessment and tailored intervention for adolescents victims of bullying Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare Postdoctorală - PD-2021
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2021-0538 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://sanatatemintalacopii.ro/proiecte/friends4me/friends4me-rezultate/

Abstract:

Bullying victimization is a widespread phenomenon among adolescents, associated with a host of negative consequences. However, despite the high prevalence and deleterious effects, a small proportion of victims of bullying receive adequate psychological assistance. Three major barriers have been identified: (1) lack of intervention personalized targeting the unique needs and characteristics of this heterogenous group; (2) reluctance to report bullying to adults; 3) stigma related to accessing mental health services as well as logistic barriers such as financial costs, and time required for their parents to accompany their children to therapy. Therefore, our projects aims to address this gap by developing and testing in a randomized controlled trial the efficacy of a chatbot in assessing bullying victimization among adolescent and delivering a REBT personalized intervention for victims of bullying. The current project will bring major contribution to the current state of the art: (1) by adopting a more targeted approach in personalizing the intervention for victims (based on specific discrete emotions adolescent present and on the types of cognitions) (2) by training the first machine learning algorithm in Romanian language in identifying specific emotions and type of cognitions using users responses as input and (3) by increasing the scalability of evidence-based intervention for victims of bullying though an easy and appealing tool.

Mechanisms of childhood bullying victimization: profiles and tailored approach to online intervention Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie, 2020
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2417 2021 - 2023

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://sanatatemintalacopii.ro/proiecte/be-strong/

Abstract:

Bullying is a prevalent phenomenon among children and adolescents worldwide, that has a negative impact on victims’ of bullying mental health. Even though anti-bullying programs have been developed, existent research indicated that such programs have limited effectiveness.One major contributor to these results is the fact that such approaches are delivered in a universal manner, and do not take into consideration children’s unique profiles. The present project aims to contribute both to the fundamental and exploratory research, as it is the first proposal towards a personalized approach to bullying victimization, transcending the limitations of previous interventions that adopt a narrow rationale of one size fits all. Therefore, through the proposed project we aim to advance the knowledge regarding cognitive mechanisms involved in bullying victimization and bullying victimization interventions through rigorous investigation methods (experience sampling methods, randomized controlled trial). We will increase the scalability of evidence-based interventions for bullying victims, through the development and testing an online tailored intervention for Romanian children and adolescents. The present project will bring substantial contributions to the existent research on bullying victimization and will have significant implications to the national approach tacking bullying as its results can be integrated into the national anti-bullying strategy and disseminated to Romanian schools.

Testing the efficacy of an online REBT transdiagnostic intervention for internalizing problems in adolescents Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0861 2017 - 2019

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://emad.granturi.ubbcluj.ro/

Abstract:

According to World Health Organization, mental health problems are the largest cause of the burden of disease among young people. Even though cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first line of treatment recommended by clinical guidelines for most of the internalizing problems (anxious and depressive disorders) found in teenagers, major barriers in the dissemination of evidence-based treatment exist. The majority of evidence-based CBT protocols for mood and anxiety disorders in youth are diagnostic-specific and fail to offer data on the theoretical underpinnings of the disorder and/or of the treatments (i.e., theory/mechanisms of change). Therefore, to innovatively promote evidence-based treatments, we need to focus on transdiagnostic approaches by focusing on the theory and mechanisms of change underlying both disorders and the proposed treatments. In this context, our project aims to investigate a computerized, transdiagnostic online delivered Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) intervention for adolescents’ mood and anxiety disorders (REBTonAD). Furthermore, we also aim to investigate brain predictors (neural/brain biomarkers) of treatment response. Through investigating the biomarkers that reflect commonalities in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, we aim to guide treatment selection for anxious and mood disorders in adolescent populations and to develop a personalized treatment. More so, although Internet treatments seem to be promising, accessible cost-effective interventions for different patient groups, this project will add timely data on the cost-effectiveness of this computerized treatment for mood and anxiety disorders in adolescents. In addition to its scientific impact, we expect that transdiagnostic online REBTonAD will be a valuable tool for large-scale mental health efforts, considering its easy dissemination and personalized content.

Coping with shame and guilt in borderline personality disorder. An emotion regulation perspective. Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0864 2017 - 2019

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://cognitive-neuroscience.ro/u5je4p6epy

Abstract:

Tulburarea de personalitate borderline (TPB) se caracterizeaza prin-un tipar persistent de instabilitate afectiva, in controlul impulsurilor, in relatiile interpersonale si in imaginea de sine, dificultatile de reglare emotionala fiind cele mai importante. Persoanele cu TPB manifesta numeroase emotii problematice, dar se considera ca, dintre toate, rusinea este cel mai puternic asociata cu simptomele tulburarii. Rolul central al rusinii, descris in teorii, este insa insuficient abordat in studii emipirice. Mai mult, in literatura nu exista deloc date privind felul in care persoanele cu TPD isi regleaza rusinea. Obiectivul principal al acestui proiect este de a explora rusinea si reglarea ei la persoane cu diagnostic de TPB sau cu nivel crescut al trasaturilor de tip TPB. Pe langa rusine vom studia si vinovatia, avand in vedere ca majoritatea celor cu TPB provin din medii de dezvoltare invalidante, care predispun la vinovatie patologica. In cadrul proiectului vor fi derulate doua studii. Primul studiu va fi longitudinal si va explora, prin metoda monitorizarii experientelor (engl. experience sampling), trairea rusinii si vinovatiei la persoane cu niveluri crescute de trasaturi TPB. Vom analiza totodata si legatura dintre acestea, traumele din copilarie si comportamentele de autovatamare. Al doilea studiu va analiza rusinea si impactul strategiilor de reglare a acesteia dupa o sarcina de inducere a rusinii in laborator. Pe langa experienta subiectiva, vom masura si raspunsul fiziologic la stres, exprimat in nivelul de cortizol salivar. Ambele studii vor include si loturi de control non-clinice. Ne asteptam ca aceste studii sa duca la o mai buna intelegere a rusinii si vinovatiei in TPB si sa ofere, pentru prima data, o imagine asupra reglarii lor in aceasa tulburare. Avand in vedere ca problemele de reglare a rusinii si vinovatiei apar si in alte tulburari de personalitate, acest proiect va permite, pe viitor, si dezvoltarea unei abordari transdiagnostice.

Enhancing successful aging - a computer-based platform for cognitive training and rehabilitation - ActiveCORE Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1797 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); MIRA REHAB SRL (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://www.activecore.ro

Abstract:

The current project aims to design and test an innovative software platform for cognitive training and rehabilitation in older individuals. Named ActiveCORE (Cognitive Optimization and Rehabilitation Enhancement), the project takes both a preventive and a corrective stance, by helping elders (1) to preserve their cognitive functions which naturally decline with aging and, at the same time, (2) trying to minimize the cognitive impairments caused by debilitating conditions frequently encountered in old age, like Alzheimer’s disease and stroke.

Since demographic data have indicated a strong tendency towards an aging population in later years, both at European level and in Romania, finding and implementing strategies for active aging has become a major priority. The project targets this direction by focusing on active aging from a psychological point of view, that of preserving and improving cognitive functions affected with age (e.g., attention, memory, reasoning ability). Since cognitive training and rehabilitation interventions target a large population, implementing effective, accessible, home-delivered techniques proves essential, since large-scale individual treatments are beyond reach, given the available resources of present-day societies. In this sense, computer-based interventions constitute a feasible solution, as they can be used at home, with relatively low costs.

Worldwide, there are currently several software platforms for cognitive training (e.g., IMPACT, Hermes, www.fp7-hermes.eu), showing promising results. However, most programs are either limited in scope, targeting only some specific cognitive functions (e.g., only prospective memory), or do not address both cognitive training and rehabilitation in an integrated fashion. Moreover, most gaming services delivered on the market are still not yet evidence-based, and/or they raise usability issues by not being specifically designed for the elderly. Last but not least, to our knowledge, there are no cognitive training and rehabilitation programs adapted for Romanian population.

Consequently, our project is focused on designing, implementing and testing a software platform for cognitive training and rehabilitation, using state of the art technology and grounding on scientific evidence. First, we will conduct an extensive literature analysis on (1) trainable cognitive functions, and (2) the effects of cognitive training programs on multiple outcomes such as specific cognitive functions, impact on daily activities and quality of life. These data would further constitute the input for the development of the platform. The software platform to be developed would be built on adaptive testing principles, targeting (a) the training of cognitive functions like attention, working memory, reasoning ability in the form of entertaining games for healthy elders, (b) rehabilitating cognitive abilities (e.g., tip of the tongue situations, prospective memory) in less functional elders, and (c) assisting elders in daily life activities (e.g., reminders, action plans). In addition, the platform would include a module for addressing emotional states, quality of life, and cognitive style (e.g., low frustration tolerance). The platform would rely on latest technologies, like the kinect system (human motion tracking), offering a friendly and ecological training environment. Once developed, the platform would be tested in terms of usability and acceptability, and also in terms of its effects on multiple level outcomes: cognitive functions, impact on daily activities, subjective well being and quality of life, and biological outcomes, via fMRI scanning. Implementing the project would therefore provide a well designed, competitive product for cognitive training and rehabilitation offering at the same time valuable scientific information.

REThink: Evidence-based therapeutic online game for child and adolescent mental health Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1937 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); PIXELDATA S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://rethink.info.ro/

Abstract:

The project aims at responding to the European urge of improving children and adolescents’ access to evidence-based mental health interventions. We aim to design, develop, and evaluate a therapeutic video game accessible over the Internet, meant to be used primarily as a standalone application to promote emotional resilience in children and adolescents.

There is a global concern for child and adolescent mental health, with emotional disorders being among the most frequent and persistent conditions. While it is known that adolescents are major computer and technology gadget users, no evidence-based therapeutic online games exist for preventing emotional disorders and promote their well-being. Few therapeutic videogames are mentioned in the literature, and most of them are not based on the best available protocols. Furthermore, little preliminary data is available for their effects, and since they are used only within therapy sessions (as they are not designed to be standalone applications for promoting resilience), they cannot be played online. These weaknesses significantly lower their accessibility and potential efficiency in terms of fostering resilience; in addition, they hinder the integration of some aspects found to be very attractive by children and adolescents, like multiplayer options.

The online REThink game we aim to develop within this project is designed to take a step further in using therapeutic games, in that it is meant to be a standalone tool, available online, used to prevent emotional problems in youths. More specifically, we will (1) develop an attractive online game based on evidence-based emotion-regulation strategies and latest available technologies; and (2) test its effectiveness in promoting mental health in children and adolescents, in a rigorous clinical study. The game will be available for children and adolescents to be played online based on its website or on mobiles and tablets, either individually or based on multi-player option. An important strong starting point for this project is the opportunity to develop the game based on a character having with its own stories (i.e., RETMAN), belonging to tested packages of cognitive-behavioral therapy for promoting child and adolescent mental health (i.e., Rational Emotive Behavioral Education). The game will be designed to promote the acquisition of evidence-based strategies of emotional regulation in youth, so that the youth will be better equipped to cope with negative dysfunctional emotions, such as anxiety, anger and depression, as they progress in the game.

The project adheres to the priority domain Health, research thematic 4.1.6. - Implementing new methods of prevention and intervention at national level, ascribed to the European area operating systems. The REThink project offers a unique opportunity to stimulate national practices in accordance to international/European mental health initiatives, and apply state-of-the art scientific knowledge to promote emotional resilience in youth, by means of a commercial innovative product. The end-product is designed to reach a large number of youths especially outside of the clinical context, which is in line with recent WHO and UNICEF recommendations (2012) to develop community-based services, in middle- and low-income countries, where services have been traditionally provided in large mental health institutions. Based on the interlinked efforts of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals and engineers, we expect the end-result to be a cost-effective tool for mental health promotion in children and adolescents. The market potential of this project relies both on its evidence-based approach with impact for the field of youth mental health, doubled by its advanced computer technology and wide availability through Internet which makes it attractive for the target group.

Effectiveness of an empirically based web platform for anxiety in youths Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-1500 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://idare.granturi.ubbcluj.ro

Abstract:

Anxiety disorders are estimated to affect up to 20% of children and adolescents (Costello, Egger & Angold, 2004), being among the most prevalent disorders in this age group. This rate is alarming, given that the prevalence of emotional disorders in children and adolescents is on the rise (Collishaw, Maughan, Natarajan & Pickles, 2010). Therefore, it is essential to develop and make accessible alternative evidence-based interventions, which are cost-effective and easier to disseminate, in a stepped-care approach. Computerized cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and cognitive bias modification (CBM) interventions delivered online have the potential of attending to these requirements (Andersson, 2009; Hallion & Ruscio, 2011). the main goal of the current project is to develop and test a new web platform (iDare) designed to integrate computer-based CBT and CBM interventions, in order to offer an easily accessible treatment of anxiety disorders in youth (age between 12 and 16 years). The development of iDare web platform will be conducted in accordance with the recent guidelines regarding the use of technology for mental health services (see Doherty, Coyle, & Mathews, 2010). Four objectives are subsumed to its development, each of them coming to solve a specific problem and build a solution: (1). To construct a complex theoretical framework for developing the web platform (iDare); (2) To develop a web platform for treating anxiety disorders in youths (iDare platform); (3). To test the preliminary version of the iDare web platform with respect to its usability; (4) To test the clinical utility of two types of treatment (a computer-based CBT protocol, respectively a computer-based CBT protocol supplemented with a CBM component) in decreasing anxious symptomatology in youths, both in terms of its effectiveness and mechanisms of change. The original, novelty and innovative nature of this project are seen at an applied (socio-economic level) and theoretical levels.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects