The Effect of Video-based Testimonials About Psychotherapy on Treatment Expectations and a Short Online Intervention

Philipps University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Health Care Utilization

Treatments: Behavioral: Emotional Writing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05826886

Social learning 2_intervention

Details and patient eligibility

About

Research has shown that treatment expectations play a major role in the course of mental disorders and that positive expectations have a beneficial impact on treatment outcomes. Expectations can develop in different ways and an emerging body of research shows that social learning plays a significant role in this process. To date, most studies have investigated the impact of social learning on treatment expectations in the context of pain relief. Little is known about the impact of social learning in the psychotherapeutic treatment of depression. Therefore, this study investigates whether treatment expectations about depression therapy and treatment effects of a short online intervention can be modulated via social learning, i.e., showing positive treatment testimonials.

Enrollment: 81 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• at least 18 years old
• be able understand German (at least B1 level)
• have access to a computer device with internet access

Exclusion criteria

• age below 18 years old
• non correctable hearing or visual impairment
• diagnosis of borderline-personality disorder
• diagnosis of post-traumatic-stress-disorder
• self-reported suicidality

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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81 participants in 2 patient groups

Control video

Active Comparator group

Description:

Video of a woman describing basic information about psychotherapy and how it is embedded in the insurance system in Germany. Personal experience with therapy are not provided. 'Emotional writing' is introduced as a type of intervention used in depression treatment and basic information about it is provided.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Emotional Writing

Testimonials

Experimental group

Description:

Video of a patient and a therapist, who both describe their personal experience of depression therapy in a positive but realistic way. Emphasis is on the personal experience protagonist. 'Emotional writing' is described as a helpful technique from a first person perspective.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Emotional Writing