CompletedNot Applicable

Brief Emotion-Focused Therapy for Self-Criticism: A Comparison With a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach

Portugal95 participantsStarted 2025-04-17

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an effective approach in reducing self-criticism in adults. EFT will be compared with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a well-established treatment shown to be effective for a wide range of mental health difficulties. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Does EFT reduce self-criticism as effectively as CBT? 2. How do EFT and CBT compare in their impact on other mental health symptoms? Participants will: 1. Receive a six-session, weekly online individual intervention (EFT or CBT), focused on reducing self-criticism. 2. Complete regular questionnaires during the intervention and at follow-up periods to track changes in self-criticism and other mental health symptoms.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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

. age over 18 years old
. Portuguese native speakers
. elevated self-critical processes
. perceived impact of the self-critical process on their daily functionality,
. availability to work with self-critical processes.

Exclusion criteria

. elevated dysfunctionality
. high risk factors (such as suicide risk)

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

Level of Self-Criticism

Timeframe: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T2-T6) Pre-session assessment : Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before sessions 2-6). T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6. T8-T9) Follow-ups: 1 and 3 months after T7.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07432139

SponsorCatarina Teixeira

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-01-07

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Emotion Focused Therapy trials