Recruiting

Coping with Distress

Sponsor:

Teachers College, Columbia University

Code:

NCT05779761

Conditions

Distress, Emotional

Emotional Dysfunction

Anxiety

Depression

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Online, Self-Directed Attention Skills Training with Coaching Support

Online, Self-Directed Attention & Reflective Thought Skills Training with Coaching Support

Online, Self-Directed Health & Wellness Education Training with Coaching Support

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study is being done to compare the effectiveness of three different skills trainings to cope with distress. These three trainings are: 1) an attention skills training, 2) an attention and reflective thought skills training, and 3) a health and wellness education training.

Conditions

Distress, Emotional

Emotional Dysfunction

Anxiety

Depression

Study ID

NCT05779761

Start date

May 12, 2023

Status verified date

Nov, 2024

Completion date

Dec, 2025

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2025

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Between the ages of 18 and 65
  • Fluent in English (and therefore able to provide consent)
  • Currently living in New York City
  • Access to a smartphone and the internet
  • High self-reported worry, rumination, and/or self-criticism
  • Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for at least one, current psychological disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active suicidal ideation or intent
  • Substance dependence disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar-I disorder, or a primary DSM-5 diagnosis of borderline or narcissistic personality disorder
  • Individuals currently receiving therapy or psychosocial treatment who do not plan to continue with the same treatment throughout the study period
  • Individuals taking psychotropic mediation that has not been stabilized for a period of at least 3 months
  • Current students at Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Individuals with cardiac conditions, diagnosed hyperhidrosis, and traumatic brain injuries or other neurological conditions (e.g., dementia, Parkinson's, epilepsy)

Study Design

Enrollment

180 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Attention Skills Training

Participants assigned to Attention Skills Training will receive 6-weeks of self-directed, online skills training on attention regulation skills for coping with distress. Six weekly modules will include 10-15 minutes of narrated videos, as well as suggestions for activities and skills practices between modules. Participants will also schedule weekly, 5-10 minute calls with an assigned skills training coach to discuss the participant's experience with the skills training.

experimental: Attention and Reflective Thought Skills Training

Participants assigned to Attention and Reflective Thought Skills Training will receive 6-weeks of self-directed, online skills training on attention and metacognitive regulation skills for coping with distress. Six weekly modules will include 10-15 minutes of narrated videos, as well as suggestions for activities and skills practices between modules. Participants will also schedule weekly, 5-10 minute calls with an assigned skills training coach to discuss the participant's experience with the skills training.

experimental: Health and Wellness Education Training

Participants assigned to Health and Wellness Education Training will receive 6-weeks of self-directed, online skills training on stress-reduction psychoeducation. Six weekly modules will include 10-15 minutes of narrated videos, as well as suggestions for activities and skills practices between modules. Participants will also schedule weekly, 5-10 minute calls with an assigned skills training coach to discuss the participant's experience with the skills training.

Interventions

Online, Self-Directed Attention Skills Training with Coaching Support

The initial set of modules focus on psychoeducation about distress, the impact that cognitions/behaviors/emotions have on recent situations, and self-monitoring of worry/rumination/self-criticism. The next set of modules focus on the development of attention skills that help regulate one's emotional experience (i.e., recognizing emotions when they are happening, identifying the meaning of a given emotion experience, soothing oneself in the context of negative emotional experiences). All modules will be online and self-directed. An internet-based online platform will be used to promote engagement with and increase accessibility to between-session skills practice and treatment-related activities (e.g., self-monitoring, worksheets). Brief, weekly coaching support (from a trained, masters-level student) will be provided to promote engagement and to help clarify concepts.

Online, Self-Directed Attention & Reflective Thought Skills Training with Coaching Support

The initial set of modules focus on psychoeducation about distress, the impact that cognitions/behaviors/emotions have on recent situations, and self-monitoring of worry/rumination/self-criticism. The next set of modules focus on the development of attention and reflective thinking skills that help regulate one's emotional experience (i.e., recognizing emotions when they are happening, identifying the meaning of a given emotion experience, soothing oneself in the context of negative emotional experiences). All modules will be online and self-directed. An internet-based online platform will be used to promote engagement with and increase accessibility to between-session skills practice and treatment-related activities (e.g., self-monitoring, worksheets). Brief, weekly coaching support (from a trained, masters-level student) will be provided to promote engagement and to help clarify concepts.

Online, Self-Directed Health & Wellness Education Training with Coaching Support

The initial set of modules focus on psychoeducation about stress, the impact that stress has on one's life, and self-monitoring of stress. The next set of modules focus on sleep, time management, nutrition, and exercise. All modules will be online and self-directed. An internet-based online platform will be used to promote engagement with and increase accessibility to between-session skills practice and treatment-related activities (e.g., self-monitoring, worksheets). Brief, weekly coaching support (from a trained, masters-level student) will be provided to promote engagement and to help clarify concepts.

Primary outcome measure

  • Changes in Ability to Regulate Emotions: Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) [ Time Frame: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up ]
  • Changes in Ability to Distancing From Emotional Experience: Experiences Questionnaire (EQ) [ Time Frame: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up ]
  • Changes in Ability to Regulate Attention: Attentional Control Scale (ACS) [ Time Frame: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up ]
  • Changes in Ability to Regulate Attention in Emotional Contexts: Emotional Attentional Control Scale (eACS) [ Time Frame: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up ]
  • Changes in Approach-Avoidance Motivation: Mental Representation of Approach Avoidance Questionnaire (MRAAQ) [ Time Frame: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up ]
  • Changes in Positive and Negative Emotions: Modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES) [ Time Frame: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up ]
  • Change in Behavioral Dysregulation: Behavioral Dysregulation Scale (BDRS) [ Time Frame: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Douglas S Mennin, PhD

212-678-6609mennin@tc.columbia.edu

Locations

Teachers College, Columbia University

Recruiting

New York, New York, United States, 10027

Contacts

Douglas S Mennin, PhD

212-678-6609mennin@tc.columbia.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Teachers College, Columbia University

Last update posted

Nov 21, 2024

Last verified

Nov, 2024

Keywords

  • Emotion Regulation
  • Distress Disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Worry
  • Rumination
  • Self-Criticism
  • Skills Training

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Teachers College, Columbia University on 2024-11-21.