NCT02365220

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the placebo effect in a smartphone-based training, ostensibly designed to improve mood and perceived stress by daily exposition to either mock sound or color.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
132

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 2015

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 2015

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 3, 2015

Completed
15 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 18, 2015

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 1, 2015

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 1, 2015

Completed
Last Updated

March 31, 2016

Status Verified

March 1, 2016

Enrollment Period

8 months

First QC Date

February 3, 2015

Last Update Submit

March 30, 2016

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in mood (Assessed via Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire)

    Assessed via Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire

    Pre- and post-training, during 20 days of training

  • Change in perceived stress

    Assessed via State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory; Visual Analog Scale

    Pre- and post-training, during 20 days of training

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Emotional state (Assessed via Self-Assessment-Manikin scales)

    Post-training, during 20 days of training

Other Outcomes (2)

  • Efficacy expectancy (Assessed via Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire)

    Post-training, training day 1, 7, 14, 20

  • Feedback on adverse events during the daily training session (Number of subjects reporting an adverse event)

    Post-training, last training day (day 20)

Study Arms (4)

No expectancy (control)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

No expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training

Behavioral: No expectancy (control)

Prospective expectancy

EXPERIMENTAL

Prospective expectancy instruction ("Training will have an effect on...") with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training

Behavioral: Prospective expectancy

Retrospective expectancy

EXPERIMENTAL

Retrospective expectancy instruction ("Training already had an effect on...") with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training

Behavioral: Retrospective expectancy

Prospective and retrospective expectancy

EXPERIMENTAL

Prospective ("Training will have an effect on...") and retrospective ("Training already had an effect on...") expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training

Behavioral: Prospective and retrospective expectancy

Interventions

No expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)

No expectancy (control)

Prospective expectancy instruction ("Training will have an effect on...") with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)

Prospective expectancy

Retrospective expectancy instruction ("Training already had an effect on...") with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)

Retrospective expectancy

Prospective ("Training will have an effect on...") and retrospective ("Training already had an effect on...") expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)

Prospective and retrospective expectancy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Access to smartphone during study period

You may not qualify if:

  • Severe visual impairment
  • Dyschromatopsia
  • Severe defective hearing
  • Regular intake of medication (excl. contraceptives)
  • Severe mental disorders

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Basel

Basel, 4055, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Stalujanis E, Neufeld J, Glaus Stalder M, Belardi A, Tegethoff M, Meinlschmidt G. Induction of Efficacy Expectancies in an Ambulatory Smartphone-Based Digital Placebo Mental Health Intervention: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021 Feb 17;9(2):e20329. doi: 10.2196/20329.

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Longitudinal Studies

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cohort StudiesEpidemiologic StudiesEpidemiologic Study CharacteristicsEpidemiologic MethodsInvestigative TechniquesHealth Care Evaluation MechanismsQuality of Health CareHealth Care Quality, Access, and EvaluationPublic HealthEnvironment and Public Health

Study Officials

  • Gunther Meinlschmidt, Prof. Dr.

    University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 3, 2015

First Posted

February 18, 2015

Study Start

February 1, 2015

Primary Completion

October 1, 2015

Study Completion

October 1, 2015

Last Updated

March 31, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-03

Locations