Actively Recruiting
Effects of Darkness Retreat: a Pilot Study
Led by University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw · Updated on 2026-02-24
30
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
54 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw
Lead Sponsor
W
Within Properties
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The primary goal of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and safety of a research protocol for a voluntary darkness retreat. The study will also allow for a preliminary examination of the psychological effects of the retreat. The investigators will investigate whether participants experience changes in their well-being and ruminative style, whether these changes persist over time, and if these effects are moderated by individual characteristics such as readiness for change or subjective evaluation of the experience as well as frequency of participants' monitoring. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups, both of which will spend 3 days and 3 nights in seclusion. These groups will differ only in the frequency of psychological monitoring during the retreat, allowing us to compare the effectiveness and safety of each protocol.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Effects of Darkness Retreat: a Pilot Study
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 30 and 50 years
- Psychologically healthy students with higher levels of trait anxiety and worry
- Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) score between 40 and 80
- Not engaged in psychotherapy or coaching
- Not taking psychotropic medication
- Generally good physical health
- Able to participate in a 3-day and 3-night voluntary darkness retreat
- Willing to wear WHOOP wristbands during the retreat
- Able to complete self-administered online questionnaires in Polish
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosed with acute or chronic somatic illness (e.g., cardiovascular disease)
- Diagnosed psychiatric or neurological disorders (e.g., depression, addiction, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, epilepsy, stroke, severe brain injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia)
- Active suicidal tendencies with plan or intent
- Taking psychotropic medication
- Engaged in psychotherapy or coaching
- Pregnant
- PHQ-9 score above 20
- GAD-7 score 15 or higher
- AUDIT score 22 or higher
- DUDIT score 7 or higher
- Clinical levels of worry identified during clinical interview
- Elevated risk scores on DSM-5 Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder requiring further evaluation
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Poznań Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland
Poznan, Wielkopolska, Poland, 61-719
Actively Recruiting
2
SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Poznan, Poland
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
J
Jarosław M Michałowski, Professor
CONTACT
K
Katarzyna Sanna, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
2
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