RecruitingNot Applicable

Brief Interventions for Coping with Distress

United States180 participantsStarted 2023-05-12

Plain-language 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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

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)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Changes in Ability to Regulate Emotions: Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)

Timeframe: 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)

Timeframe: 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)

Timeframe: 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)

Timeframe: 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)

Timeframe: 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)

Timeframe: Pre-Training, Post-Training (6 weeks after starting the training), and 3-Month Follow-Up

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05779761

SponsorTeachers College, Columbia University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12

Contact for this trial

Douglas S Mennin, PhD

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

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Distress, Emotional trials