Mood Lifters for Undergraduates

NCT05684120 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HUM00221612
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 125
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Large-scale, effective, low-cost, and evidence-based programs that can nimbly translate new research discoveries into prevention and care for psychosocial-based problems are urgently needed since the vast majority of people who need evidence-based care do not receive it. The purpose of this randomized control trial is to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a Mood Lifters group template specifically for undergraduate students. Mood Lifters is an effective peer-led program that improves or maintains mental health. It seeks to help people enhance pleasure, engagement, and meaning in their lives while minimizing depression, fear, loneliness, and other negative feelings via a proprietary peer-based program that offers weekly meetings and other flexible support options. One obstacle to providing mental health care in the US is that it is costly to provide one-on-one therapy by a licensed professional. This is particularly true in large group settings with limited resources (counseling centers) and a large need for mental health care, like universities.

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety; Mood Disorders; Mental Health Wellness 1; Stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Patient Health Questionnaire - 9

  Assesses Depressive Symptoms (Range 0-27; higher scores indicate more significant symptoms of depression)

  through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7

  Assesses Anxiety Symptoms (Range 0-21; higher scores indicate more significant symptoms of anxiety)

  through study completion, an average of 1 year

Study Arms (2)

Treatment Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Individuals in this arm will take part in the Mood Lifters program immediately after recruitment.

Behavioral: Mood Lifters for Undergraduates

Waitlist Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Individuals in this arm will be invited to take part in the Mood Lifters program after they complete post-treatment surveys as part of the control group.

Interventions

Mood Lifters for Undergraduates BEHAVIORAL

Participants will need to attend 14 hour-long virtual weekly meetings on Zoom that focus on helpful mental health strategies and skills. Participants will be encourage to practice what they learn at home in order to improve their mood or mental wellness.

Also known as: Mood Lifters for College Students

Treatment Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• undergraduate students
• at least 18 years of age

You may not qualify if:

• active suicidal thoughts or behavior
• active psychosis
• borderline personality disorder
• active mania
• unwillingness to attend all sessions or treatment types (e.g., unwillingness to attend remote)
• non-undergraduate students.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Michigan: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Mood Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Patricia J Deldin, Ph.D.

  University of Michigan

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Waitlist control model

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 4, 2023
• First Posted: January 13, 2023
• Study Start: August 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: October 18, 2025
• Study Completion: October 18, 2025
• Last Updated: December 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)