Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Metacognitive Bibliotherapy for Anxiety, Depression, and Metacognitions in University Students

110 participantsStarted 2026-06-15

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a self-help reading program, called metacognitive bibliotherapy, can reduce anxiety and depression in university students studying medicine and health sciences. It will also examine whether the program changes unhelpful thinking patterns about worry and rumination. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does metacognitive bibliotherapy lower anxiety and depression symptoms in university students? Does it reduce unhelpful thinking patterns, such as excessive worry and rumination? Researchers will compare two different self-help books with a waiting list group to see if reading these books helps reduce anxiety and depression. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to one of three groups: read The Art of Letting Go - How to Stop Rumination, read Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory, or join a waiting list * Read the assigned book at their own pace over 8 weeks * Complete online questionnaires at the start of the study, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks * Participants in the waiting list group will receive both books for free after the 8-week study period ends

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 25 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: * Active enrollment in the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, or Psychology at Istanbul Nisantasi University * Aged between 18 and 25 years * Provision of voluntary digital informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Currently receiving active psychiatric treatment (psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy) * Change in psychopharmacological medication within the past 6 months * Prior reading of either of the study books * Presence of acute psychotic symptoms or suicidal 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

Change in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms (DASS-21)

Timeframe: Baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), and post-intervention (Week 8)

Change in Metacognitive Beliefs (MCQ-30)

Timeframe: Baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), and post-intervention (Week 8)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07627139

SponsorIstanbul Nisantasi University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-09-30

Contact for this trial

Alişan Burak Yaşar, MD, Assoc. Prof.

+90 532 424 30 58 alisanburak.yasar@nisantasi.edu.tr

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Anxiety trials