RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06311136

Effectiveness of an Ecological Momentary Emotion Regulation Intervention

Effectiveness of an Ecological Momentary Emotion Regulation Intervention Among Individuals With and Without Depressive Disorders: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Sponsor

Heidelberg University

Enrollment

200 participants

Start Date

Jan 12, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Healthy Persistent Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major

Summary

This two-armed randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effectiveness of an emotion regulation intervention in individuals with and without depressive disorders. The study encompasses participants diagnosed with mild to moderate major depression or persistent depressive disorder and healthy controls without a current depressive disorder. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving a valence-specific emotion regulation intervention in daily life, or a monitoring-only control group. The valence-specific intervention supports the implementation of different emotion regulation strategies based on whether a person is experiencing mainly positive or negative emotions. In contrast, participants in the control group will solely monitor their positive and negative emotions and the strategies used to regulate them. Outcome measures include emotion regulation ability, self-efficacy, and strategy use, depressive symptoms, positive and negative affect, and emotion beliefs (controllability, usefulness). A second aim of the study is to compare beliefs about positive emotions and strategies to regulate them between individuals with and without current depressive disorders. Furthermore, the investigators aim to examine why individuals might choose unfavorable emotion regulation strategies even when feeling good. Therefore, another research question is, how emotion beliefs might explain emotion regulation strategy choice.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 65 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This online study tests a smartphone-based emotion regulation intervention — delivered through brief check-ins throughout the day (called ecological momentary assessment and intervention) — to help people manage difficult emotions. The study includes both people with mild to moderate depression and healthy participants. **You may be eligible if...** - You own a smartphone (Android or iOS) and have internet access - You can read and understand German - For the clinical group: you currently meet criteria for a mild or moderate depressive episode or persistent depressive disorder (low-grade chronic depression) - For the healthy control group: you have not had significant depression in the past year and are not in psychological treatment **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have a severe major depressive episode or are in crisis - You have bipolar disorder or a psychotic disorder - You have a severe substance use disorder - You currently feel acutely suicidal Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALValence-Specific Ecological Momentary Intervention

The ecological momentary intervention is designed to enhance participants ability to select and effectively implement emotion regulation strategies fitting to the valence of their current emotions. Specifically, the intervention instructs participants to use the strategy of savoring to amplify their positive emotions, fostering an appreciation for the present moment. Conversely, for the attenuation of negative emotions, the intervention advocates to use the strategy of reappraisal, encouraging participants to reinterpret adverse situations in a more positive or neutral way, thus reducing their emotional impact. This targeted approach ensures that the emotion regulation strategies are not only effective but also contextually appropriate.