Emotion Focused Therapy for Competitive Athletes

NCT05896436 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 00044207430-2022-00033
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This project will be a pilot study to test the feasibility of using Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) among competitive athletes experiencing mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety. To test whether the intervention works, the researchers will assess athletes' emotion dysregulation, symptoms of mood disorders (anxiety and depression), sport-related distress, subjective performance satisfaction, and well-being. In addition to assessing athlete outcomes, key aspects to be examined in the pilot study include the recruitment and randomization procedures, informed consent procedures, data collection tools, implementation of the intervention, and retention of participants. Feasibility will be assessed by recruitment (willingness to be randomized, number of eligible participants in the recruitment process). Retention will be assessed by the number of athletes who continue or discontinue attendance. Participants' experiences in the intervention will be assessed via qualitative interviews to gain in-depth information about their perceptions of the intervention.

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline score in depressive symptoms

  Depression will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which is a 9-item, self-report questionnaire designed to assess the participant's depression levels during the past 2 weeks. The PHQ-9 utilizes a 4-point scale (0= not at all, 3= nearly every day). Scores are totaled and presented from 0 to 27. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively.

  At 12 weeks or immediately after termination of intervention, if terminated earlier than 12 sessions.

• Change from baseline score in anxiety symptoms

  Anxiety will be assessed with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), which is a 7-item, self-report anxiety questionnaire designed to assess the participant's anxiety levels during the past 2 weeks. The GAD-7 utilizes a 4-point scale (0= not at all, 3= nearly every day). Scores are totaled and presented from 0 to 21. Scores of 5, 10, and 15 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, respectively.

  At 12 weeks or immediately after termination of intervention, if terminated earlier than 12 sessions.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change from baseline score in Emotion Dysregulation

  At 12 weeks or immediately after termination of intervention, if terminated earlier than 12 sessions.

• Change from baseline score in alexithymia

  At 12 weeks or immediately after termination of intervention, if terminated earlier than 12 sessions.

• Change in baseline score for Sport Related Distress - Athlete Psychological Strain

  At 12 weeks or immediately after termination of intervention, if terminated earlier than 12 sessions.

• Changes in baseline score for Sport Related Distress - Sport Psychology Outcomes

  At 12 weeks or immediately after termination of intervention, if terminated earlier than 12 sessions.

Other Outcomes (2)

• Client-Therapist Working Alliance

  Working alliance will be assessed at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks during the intervention.

• Athletes' experiences of participating in psychotherapy

  After conclusion of intervention (one-month follow up).

Study Arms (2)

Emotion Focused Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive 12 weekly 1-hour sessions of Emotion Focused Therapy with a trained student therapist.

Behavioral: Emotion Focused Therapy

Wait list control

NO INTERVENTION

No intervention; waitlist control group will receive intervention once the data collection during the intervention period has concluded.

Interventions

Emotion Focused Therapy BEHAVIORAL

12 sessions of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). The focus in EFT is to promote the individual's experiencing and facilitate participants' self-disclosure and openness to their own experience, rather than the therapist's agenda or techniques. Key processes within EFT include helping people overcome their avoidance of emotion, maintaining a collaborative focus on emotions, and exploring emotions in therapy.

Emotion Focused Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Over the age of 18 and capable of consenting to participate in the study
• Participating in competitive sport (highly trained/national level or above); athletes may be participating in any able-bodied or para-sport.
• Speak and comprehend English
• Meet criteria for mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety
• Reside in Ontario
• Not currently receiving psychotherapy

You may not qualify if:

• Athletes under the age of 18 who are not able to provide informed consent to participate in the study
• Athletes participating in recreational sport
• Athletes who meet criteria for high risk of eating disorder
• Athletes who meet criteria for severe depression or anxiety
• Athletes who do not live in Ontario
• Athletes indicating low levels of depression or anxiety
• Athletes who are currently receiving psychotherapy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Toronto: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education

Toronto, Ontario, M5S2W6, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Emotion-Focused Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Katherine Tamminen, PhD

  University of Toronto

  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: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 6, 2023
• First Posted: June 9, 2023
• Study Start: October 7, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 25, 2024
• Study Completion: June 25, 2024
• Last Updated: May 6, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
• Time Frame: Intention to publish date: 30/06/2025
• Access Criteria: Researchers wishing to access the data for research purposes/secondary analyses will require ethical approval from a recognized research ethics board and submit a request for access to the data from the lead investigator.

Locations

CA (1)