Effectiveness of an Ecological Momentary Emotion Regulation Intervention Among Individuals With and Without Depressive Disorders: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how an emotion regulation intervention works in adults with and without depressive disorders, including those diagnosed with mild to moderate major depression or persistent depressive disorder and healthy individuals without depression. The study aims to understand differences in beliefs about positive emotions and how these beliefs influence the choice of emotion regulation strategies. It also explores why some people may choose less helpful ways to manage their emotions, even when feeling good. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives a valence-specific ecological momentary intervention through a smartphone app, called the PEAK diary, which supports using savoring for positive emotions and reappraisal for negative emotions twice daily over 14 days. The control group monitors their emotions and regulation strategies twice daily over the same period without receiving intervention instructions. Both groups complete baseline questionnaires, daily assessments, and post-assessment questionnaires. During the study, participants complete smartphone-based surveys multiple times per day, reporting their emotions and regulation strategies. Researchers measure emotion regulation ability, self-efficacy, strategy use, depressive symptoms, affect, and beliefs about emotions at the start and after three weeks. The study includes safety monitoring and excludes individuals with severe psychiatric conditions. Total participation involves baseline, intervention or monitoring periods, breaks, and follow-up assessments.

Effectiveness of an Ecological Momentary Emotion Regulation Intervention