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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05566691

Strategies for Coping With Negative Thoughts

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of two strategies for coping with negative automatic thoughts (positive thinking and cognitive restructuring) on one's belief in negative thoughts and one's affect. Another main objective is to assess whether participating in a positive mood induction (versus no mood induction) prior to using one of the two coping strategies impacts belief in negative thoughts and affect. We will also explore the interaction between strategy condition and mood induction condition. As secondary outcomes, we will evaluate whether there are changes in positive thinking skills and cognitive restructuring skills and depressive symptoms after one week of using the strategy.

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Key information

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders Negative Thinking

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

About this study

Participants will be randomized to learn about positive thinking or cognitive restructuring, which will involve watching brief videos, being presented with examples of how one might apply the strategy when experiencing negative thoughts, and practicing with a personal example using a worksheet. Participants will also be randomized to positive mood induction, which is comprised of an autobiographical recall exercise in which participants are asked to recall a pleasant memory before filling out the worksheet. Participants will be asked to use the strategy and complete a worksheet online once per day for six days. Participants will respond to questionnaires at baseline and after 6 days of strategy use.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years old or older.

Exclusion criteria

  • A level of visual impairment that would prevent them from being able to answer questions on an electronic screen.

Treatment and study plan

Positive thinking

Other

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using positive thinking and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of positively reevaluating negative thoughts.

Positive thinking + Mood induction

Other

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using positive thinking and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of positively reevaluating negative thoughts. They will be assigned to a positive mood induction before completion of the worksheet.

Thought reevaluation

Other

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using thought reevaluation and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of reevaluating negative thoughts.

Thought reevaluation + Mood induction

Other

Participants will be provided with information about how to cope with negative thoughts using thought reevaluation and asked to complete a worksheet walking them through the steps of reevaluating negative thoughts. They will be assigned to a positive mood induction before completion of the worksheet.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule

    Time frame: Assessed at baseline, each day for 6 days, and one week post-baseline.

    The PANAS is a 20-item self report scale that measures positive affect (10 items) and negative affect (10 items). Each item is rated on a Likert scale from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating a higher endorsement of each affective descriptor.

  2. Change in belief in negative thought

    Time frame: Assessed at baseline, each day for 6 days, and one week post-baseline.

    Participants will be asked how much they believed in a negative thought (0-100%) they recently experienced before completing a worksheet. After using a positive thinking or cognitive restructuring worksheet, participants will rate how much they currently believe their initial negative thought.

  3. Change in mood

    Time frame: Assessed at baseline, each day for 6 days, and one week post-baseline.

    Participants will be asked to rate their mood on a scale of 0 (very negative) to 100 (very positive) before and after the positive mood induction.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in positive thinking and cognitive restructuring skills

    Time frame: Assessed at baseline and one week post-baseline.

    Cognitive restructuring skills will be assessed by the Competencies of Cognitive Therapy Scale-10, which is a 10-item self-report measure assessing the use of cognitive strategies to cope with negative mood. Positive thinking skills will be measured by the 10-item Positive Thinking Skills Scale, which assesses the use of positive thinking strategies to cope with negative mood.

  2. Change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms Self-Report

    Time frame: Assessed at baseline and one week post-baseline.

    The QIDS-SR is a 16-item self-report measure of depressive symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ohio State University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Oct 4, 2022
Registry last updated
Jan 9, 2023

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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