Digital Self-efficacy Training to Bridge Waiting Times for Psychotherapy

NCT05560581 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: SeApp III
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 94
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The main aim of this project is to improve waiting periods for specialised psychotherapy. We will apply a brief, smartphone-based self-efficacy training to patients with psychiatric disorders waiting for specialised psychotherapy. Additionally, we will use Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to assess mood, social contacts, and other parameters daily. We will investigate whether the training can improve self-efficacy and related constructs and if it can help reduce stress and waitlist drop-outs during waiting periods. Additionally, we will investigate if the self-efficacy training has a positive effect on motivation and therapeutical relationship regarding the subsequent therapy. After a screening for eligibility, participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and control group. At baseline, participants attend a laboratory session where they are assessed for current psychiatric disorders and further relevant psychological variables. They will then either participate in the digital self-efficacy training combined with EMA (intervention group) or in EMA only (control group). Both will be conducted via a smartphone app. Subsequently, participants will be asked to fill in post questionnaires at three different time points: after having finished app usage, one month later, and after the beginning of the subsequent psychotherapy.

Conditions

Psychiatric Disorder; Waiting for Psychotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in self-efficacy

  Validated measures ("General Self-Efficacy Scale" (10 items; higher scores indicate higher self-efficacy -\> better outcome), "Coping Self-efficacy scale" (26 items; higher scores indicate higher self-effiacy -\> better outcome) and individual questions based on validated measures assessing specific self-efficacy regarding emotion regulation, therapy and waitlist will be used to assess self-efficacy at baseline and 3 different time points after the intervention.

  baseline to 1 day after the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Change in hopelessness

  baseline to 1 day after the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

• Change in anxiety

  baseline to 1 day after the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

• Change in stress

  baseline to 1 day after the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

• Change in therapy expectations

  baseline to 1 day after the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

• Change in depression

  baseline to 1 day after the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

Other Outcomes (3)

• Change in mood and contacts

  3 per day during one-week

• Change in in ability to work

  baseline to 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

• Motivation and life enjoyment

  baseline to 1 day after the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, within 1 month after the subsequent therapy began

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive an one-week digital self-efficacy training (3x/day) and an one-week Ecological Momentary Assessment (3x/day questions on mood, social and virtual contacts).

Behavioral: Digital self-efficacy training; Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment

Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive an one-week Ecological Momentary Assessment (3x/day questions on mood, social and virtual contacts).

Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment

Interventions

Digital self-efficacy training BEHAVIORAL

Prior to the app participation, participants will receive psychoeducation on self-efficacy and will be instructed to define two autobiographical self-efficacy memories (own achievements, e.g., completion of an exam, success in a sporting event). During the week of app participation, they will be prompted three times per day and asked to perform an imagination task. Step by step, they will recall one of their autobiographic self-efficacy memories and focus on their character traits and abilities that were relevant for their achievement.

Intervention group

Ecological Momentary Assessment BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive questions on mood and social/virtual contacts 3 times per day.

Control group; Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• psychiatric disorder
• age 18-65
• waiting for psychiatric assessment/treatment (being on waitlist)
• sufficient knowledge of the German language
• smartphone user
• internet access via smartphone
• internet access at home (laptop, tablet, or computer)

You may not qualify if:

• current intense psychotherapy
• acute suicidality
• acute psychotic symptoms
• substance addiction

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich: lead

Study Sites (2)

Integrated Psychiatry Winterthur

Winterthur, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Psychiatric University Hospital

Zurich, Switzerland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders

Interventions

Ecological Momentary Assessment

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychological Tests; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Judith Rohde, MD

  Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Judith Rohde, MD

CONTACT

+41 (0)58 384 65 00; judith.rohde@uzh.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: double-blind
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinician Scientist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2022
• First Posted: September 29, 2022
• Study Start: November 7, 2022
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2025
• Study Completion: November 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-11

Locations

CH (2)