Strategies for Coping With Negative Thoughts

The Ohio State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depressive Symptoms; Negative Thinking; Anxiety

Treatments: Other: Positive thinking; Other: Positive thinking + Mood induction; Other: Thought reevaluation + Mood induction; Other: Thought reevaluation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05566691

2022B0242

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 301 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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301 participants in 4 patient groups

Positive thinking

Active Comparator group

Description:

Videos will describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe positive thinking, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve a shortened version of this worksheet.

Treatment:

Other: Positive thinking

Positive thinking plus mood induction

Active Comparator group

Description:

The same videos will be used to describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe positive thinking, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. Participants will then undergo a positive mood induction in which they are asked to recall a pleasant memory and try to re-experience those feelings. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve the same mood induction and a shortened version of this worksheet.

Treatment:

Other: Positive thinking + Mood induction

Thought reevaluation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Videos will describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe reevaluating thoughts, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve a shortened version of this worksheet.

Treatment:

Other: Thought reevaluation

Thought reevaluation plus mood induction

Active Comparator group

Description:

The same videos will be used to describe negative automatic thoughts and then describe reevaluating thoughts, its benefits, and how to use it to cope with negative thoughts. Participants will then undergo a positive mood induction in which they are asked to recall a pleasant memory and try to re-experience those feelings. A worksheet will then walk participants through applying the strategy to a recent negative thought of their own. Daily surveys will involve the same mood induction and a shortened version of this worksheet.

Treatment:

Other: Thought reevaluation + Mood induction