From Fear to Purpose ACT Protocol. Implications of Death Anxiety in Depression and Anxiety Symptoms.

NCT ID: NCT06810999

Last Updated: 2025-04-18

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 175 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-06-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-30

Brief Summary

The main purpose of this placebo controlled trial is to test the efficacy of a one-session From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention in reducing self-reported death anxiety levels. Another objective of this study is to investigate whether reductions in death anxiety levels are associated with reductions in depression and anxiety levels, thus testing if death anxiety is a transdiagnostic factor involved in psychopathology.

Detailed Description

This is a placebo controlled trial where the main objective is to test if the one-session From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention is effective in reducing self-reported death anxiety levels. A secondary objective is to investigate whether reductions in death anxiety levels are associated with reductions in depression and anxiety levels, thus testing if death anxiety is a transdiagnostic factor involved in psychopathology.

Participants will be selected based on death anxiety levels (moderate-high scores) and depression and anxiety symptoms (subclinical levels). Minors, people with suicidal ideation, people with current psychological/psychiatric diagnosis (excepting depression or anxiety diagnosis), people in active psychological/psychiatric treatment will be excluded. Recruited participants will be randomized into two groups: the experimental group (will receive the From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention) and the placebo group. The placebo condition will be undergoing a group-based attentional control activity. Participants will be blinded to the study condition.

The From Fear to Purpose intervention protocol is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, build around identifying and committing to personal values. The intervention will be group-based (90 minutes session). The intervention will be administered by experienced psychotherapists.

The primary outcome is death anxiety, while secondary outcomes are depression and anxiety symptoms, well-being, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance and valued living.

Conditions

Death Anxiety; Depression; Anxiety

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Experimental Group

This arm is the experimental group which will receive the intervention. The intervention is a one session From Fear to Purpose ACT Protocol, which is built on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, focused on identifying and committing to personal values.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

From Fear to Purpose (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

Intervention Type: OTHER

The From Fear to Purpose ACT Protocol is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, build around identifying and committing to personal values. The intervention will be group-based (90 minutes session).

Placebo Group

This arm is the placebo group, which will be undergoing a group-based attentional control intervention.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: OTHER

The placebo condition consists of a group-based attentional control intervention.

Interventions

From Fear to Purpose (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

The From Fear to Purpose ACT Protocol is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, build around identifying and committing to personal values. The intervention will be group-based (90 minutes session).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Placebo

The placebo condition consists of a group-based attentional control intervention.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Moderate-high levels of death anxiety (score > or = 55) AND
• Subclinical levels of depression (score > or = 9) AND/OR
• Subclinical levels of anxiety (score > or = 9)

Exclusion Criteria

• Minors
• Suicidal ideation
• Current psychological/psychiatric diagnosis (except depression or anxiety diagnosis)
• Active psychological/psychiatric treatment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Babes-Bolyai University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Roxana Cardos

PhD

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Roxana Cardoș, PhD

Role: CONTACT

roxanaoltean@psychology.ro

0040751477323

Other Identifiers

816/22.01.2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id