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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05623826

Feasibility and Efficacy of a Digital Training Intervention to Increase Reward Sensitivity- Imager

Development and feasibility test of an Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) - Imager, to promote and improve stress resilience, specifically to increase reward sensitivity.

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Key information

Conditions

Stress

Age range

18 year–29 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Psychiatric University Hospital

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8032, Switzerland

About this study

Aim of the current project is to develop and test Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) - Imager, to promote and improve stress resilience, specifically to increase reward sensitivity. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people as they go about in their daily lives. The EMI developed and tested here is based on theoretical and empirical findings and consists of several items and a repeated training using various individual scenarios from participants' life that will be presented to participants via an app on their smartphones.

This study tests the feasibility and effects of the EMI on a change in (i) reward sensitivity, (ii) mental imagery, and (iii) indices of perceived stress. One hundred twenty healthy student participants, aged 18-29 will be included in the study. Participants will be screened first and included if they score 5 points or more on the Reward Sensitivity Subscale of Behavioral Avoidance/Inhibition (BIS/BAS) scales. This is necessary in order to avoid a ceiling effect. Then, participants will be randomly assigned to an experimental (reward sensitivity EMI) or two of the control conditions (control EMA or waitlist). The reward sensitivity EMI group will be taught about experiencing rewards in daily life and will be asked to apply the specific techniques to personal situations repeatedly. The control EMA group will use the same app consisting of Ecological Momentary Assessment only, and the waitlist group will not receive any mobile app.

The training will last seven consecutive days and the app will send (i) 10 prompts per day to ask about the current mood of the user in control EMA and experimental groups and (ii) three prompts per day resulting in a total of 21 reward training sessions only in the experimental group. Participants will be able to use a special button triggering the intervention or EMA by themselves too. After one week, participants will return to the lab, fill in questionnaires and participate in behavioral tasks.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • being a student
  • having sufficient knowledge of the German language
  • being a smartphone user
  • score of 5 points or more in Reward Sensitivity Subscale of Behavioral Avoidance/Inhibition (BIS/BAS) scales

Exclusion criteria

  • having a mental illness or attending the psychotherapy

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive- behavioral imagery-based training

Other

The EMI developed and tested here is based on theoretical and empirical findings and consists of several items and a repeated training using various individual scenarios from participants' life that will be presented to participants via an app on their smartphones.

Other names: Imager

Primary outcomes

  1. Behavioural avoidance/inhibition (BIS/BAS) scales

    Time frame: one week: Pre- to post-intervention/control

    Self-reported reward sensitivity, scale range [0-15], higher score = worse outcome

  2. The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ)

    Time frame: one week: Pre- to post-intervention/control

    Self-reported reward sensitivity, scale range [0-24], higher score = better outcome

  3. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

    Time frame: one week: Pre- to post-intervention/control

    Self-reported level of stress, scale range [0-40], higher score = worse outcome

  4. Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)

    Time frame: one week: Pre- to post-intervention/control

    Self-reported depressive symptoms, scale range [0-63], higher score = worse outcome

  5. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: one week: Pre- to post-intervention/control

    Self-reported anxiety symptoms, scale range [20-80], higher score = worse outcome

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Zurich

Other

Collaborators

  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  • Radboud University Medical Center
  • Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

Registry information

Official study title

Feasibility and Efficacy of Imager, a Digital Training Intervention to Increase Reward Sensitivity: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Acronym: IMAGER

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Nov 21, 2022
Registry last updated
Nov 21, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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