Strategies for Coping With Negative Thoughts

NCT ID: NCT05566691

Last Updated: 2023-01-09

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 301 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-08-29
• Study Completion Date: 2022-12-02

Brief Summary

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of two strategies for coping with negative automatic thoughts (positive thinking and cognitive restructuring) on one's belief in negative thoughts and one's affect. Another main objective is to assess whether participating in a positive mood induction (versus no mood induction) prior to using one of the two coping strategies impacts belief in negative thoughts and affect. We will also explore the interaction between strategy condition and mood induction condition. As secondary outcomes, we will evaluate whether there are changes in positive thinking skills and cognitive restructuring skills and depressive symptoms after one week of using the strategy.

Detailed Description

Participants will be randomized to learn about positive thinking or cognitive restructuring, which will involve watching brief videos, being presented with examples of how one might apply the strategy when experiencing negative thoughts, and practicing with a personal example using a worksheet. Participants will also be randomized to positive mood induction, which is comprised of an autobiographical recall exercise in which participants are asked to recall a pleasant memory before filling out the worksheet. Participants will be asked to use the strategy and complete a worksheet online once per day for six days. Participants will respond to questionnaires at baseline and after 6 days of strategy use.

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms; Anxiety; Negative Thinking

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Positive thinking

Videos will describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe positive thinking, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve a shortened version of this worksheet.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Positive thinking

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using positive thinking and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of positively reevaluating negative thoughts.

Positive thinking plus mood induction

The same videos will be used to describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe positive thinking, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. Participants will then undergo a positive mood induction in which they are asked to recall a pleasant memory and try to re-experience those feelings. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve the same mood induction and a shortened version of this worksheet.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Positive thinking + Mood induction

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using positive thinking and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of positively reevaluating negative thoughts. They will be assigned to a positive mood induction before completion of the worksheet.

Thought reevaluation

Videos will describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe reevaluating thoughts, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve a shortened version of this worksheet.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Thought reevaluation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using thought reevaluation and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of reevaluating negative thoughts.

Thought reevaluation plus mood induction

The same videos will be used to describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe reevaluating thoughts, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. Participants will then undergo a positive mood induction in which they are asked to recall a pleasant memory and try to re-experience those feelings. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve the same mood induction and a shortened version of this worksheet.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Thought reevaluation + Mood induction

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using thought reevaluation and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of reevaluating negative thoughts. They will be assigned to a positive mood induction before completion of the worksheet.

Interventions

Positive thinking

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using positive thinking and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of positively reevaluating negative thoughts.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Positive thinking + Mood induction

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using positive thinking and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of positively reevaluating negative thoughts. They will be assigned to a positive mood induction before completion of the worksheet.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Thought reevaluation

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using thought reevaluation and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of reevaluating negative thoughts.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Thought reevaluation + Mood induction

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using thought reevaluation and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of reevaluating negative thoughts. They will be assigned to a positive mood induction before completion of the worksheet.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

• A level of visual impairment that would prevent them from being able to answer questions on an electronic screen.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Ohio State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

The Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

2022B0242

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id