Recruiting

Mindwire

Sponsor:

Brown University

Code:

NCT07892807

Conditions

Depression and/or Anxiety Symptoms

Problematic Phone Use Behavior

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 13 - 19

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Mindwire

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to understand the feasibility and acceptability on a mindfulness-based intervention to address co-existing smartphone addiction and psychological distress among adolescents ages 13-19 self-reporting elevated levels of depression and/or anxiety symptoms and problematic digital phone use. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) is Mindwire, a mindfulness-based intervention, feasible and acceptable in addressing co-existing smartphone addiction and psychological distress among adolescents; and (b) what are the mechanistic pathways, particularly the role of circadian rhythm, sleep quality, and emotion regulation, in phone use and psychological distress.

Participants will be in this research study for 3 months. After screening and onboarding, they will be asked to:

  • participate in 18 days of the Mindwire program
  • answer a 45-60 minute online survey immediately before, immediately after, and approximately six weeks after the Mindwire program
  • participate in a 60-90 minute interview asking about their experience going through the program

Conditions

Depression and/or Anxiety Symptoms

Problematic Phone Use Behavior

Study ID

NCT07892807

Start date

Oct 16, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

Feb 28, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Feb 28, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 13 - 19

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Own a smartphone (iOS or Android)
  • Can read, write, and speak in English due to the measurement and intervention delivered in English;
  • Resides in the United States
  • Experience mild to moderate levels of depression and/or anxiety symptoms, indicated by PHQ-8 (total score 5-14) and GAD-7 (total score higher than 5)
  • Self-report problematic digital device use, defined as following:
  • Self-report mobile phone use daily with >4 hours on average on weekdays
  • Self-report smartphone use in bed after 10pm ≥ 3 nights/week
  • Say 'Yes' to 2 out of 5 statements regarding problematic phone use: (1) I have found myself engaged on my phone for longer periods of time than initially intended; (2) I have used my phone when I knew I intended to be sleeping or doing work/schoolwork; (3) When I do not use my phone for some time, I feel anxious, moody, or irritable; (4) I have found myself using my phone instead of spending time with people who are important to me and want to spend time with me; and (5) I have used my mobile phone to make myself feel better when I was feeling down

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Mindwire

Interventions

Mindwire

Mindwire is an 18-day mindfulness-based, app-delivered program to support adolescents develop better coping skills and be more intentional about their phone use. In the first 4 days, participants will be listening to 5-6 short audio recordings, accompanied by text transcripts as a foundational introduction (\~4-5 minutes each), followed by booster audio recordings on Days 8 and 12. The modules will cover a variety of topics including effects of light and stress on sleep, common sleep myths, mindful wind-down routines, and stress management. Then from Days 5 to 18 (i.e., 2 weeks), participants will be asked to complete up to 3 brief surveys per day, focused on their mood and emotions. For some of these surveys, they may also be asked to complete a brief mindfulness practice. The surveys and mindfulness practices will come out to a total of approximately 30 minutes per day.

Primary outcome measure

  • Study Recruitment Feasibility as Measured by Participant Recruitment Rates [ Time Frame: During recruitment period of study, up to 3 months ]
  • Study Retention Feasibility as Measured by Participant Retention Rates [ Time Frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (day 18), and 2-month Follow-up ]
  • Intervention Engagement Feasibility as Measured by Participant Engagement with Intervention [ Time Frame: During intervention period (18 days) ]
  • Intervention Acceptability as Measured by Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) [ Time Frame: Post-intervention (day 18) ]
  • Intervention Acceptability as Measured by Session Evaluation Form [ Time Frame: Post-intervention (day 18) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Global Mental Health and Flourishing Lab

401-863-1899flourishing@brown.edu

Locations

Brown University

Recruiting

Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02903

Contacts

Shufang Sun

4018635735shufang_sun@brown.edu

Principal Investigator:

Shufang Sun

More Information

Sponsor

Brown University

Last update posted

Oct 23, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-24. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Brown University on 2026-10-23. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.