Psychoeducation for Emotional Distress

Overseen By Jennifer C Veilleux, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Disqualifiers: No phone access, No internet, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

240 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how addressing emotional distress can improve mental health. It will test various strategies to determine if a willingness to feel upset or a belief in one's ability to handle distress helps people manage their emotions better. Participants will use a phone app to track their moods and try different interventions focused on self-efficacy, willingness, both, or just education. This trial suits those who often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have regular access to a smartphone with internet. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to explore new strategies for emotional well-being.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this psychoeducational intervention is safe for participants?

A previous study found that participants in a self-efficacy program considered it doable and acceptable, meaning they completed the program comfortably. Another study showed that mindfulness training, part of a willingness program, helped people manage emotions better without increasing stress.

Research on combining willingness and self-efficacy approaches examined their impact on distress tolerance, the ability to handle emotional discomfort. The results were positive, showing that participants managed distress without increasing emotional issues.

Overall, these studies suggest that the programs tested in this trial are generally well-received by participants. No major negative side effects have been reported, indicating that the treatments are likely safe for those considering joining this trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these treatments targeting emotional distress because they focus on enhancing personal skills like self-efficacy and willingness, which are different from typical therapies. Unlike conventional treatments that might rely on medication or lengthy therapy sessions, these interventions are designed as single-session experiences that use psychoeducation to help individuals better manage distress through self-compassion and value-based growth. By teaching participants to either boost their confidence in handling distress or to accept and grow from their emotions, these treatments offer a fresh approach that could lead to quicker, more empowering emotional relief.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for emotional distress?

This trial will compare different approaches to managing emotional distress. Research has shown that believing in one's ability to handle distress, known as self-efficacy, aids in managing emotional crises. Studies have found that people with higher self-efficacy tolerate distress and control their emotions more effectively. In this trial, one group will focus on increasing self-efficacy. Another group will emphasize the willingness to experience distress, which is also important. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective in this area, teaching people to accept and cope with distress, leading to better emotional control. A third group in this trial will combine self-efficacy and willingness, aiming to boost confidence in dealing with negative emotions and improve overall emotional well-being. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking individuals experiencing emotional distress, with moderate to high levels of stress, anxiety, or depression. Participants must have a smartphone and score above certain thresholds on the DASS-21 and Distress Intolerance Index.

Inclusion Criteria

I am fluent in English.

I use an Android or iPhone smartphone.

My DASS-21 score is 42 or higher, indicating significant stress or anxiety.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants undergo a willingness, self-efficacy, combined or psychoeducational control intervention in the lab

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

App-based Monitoring

Participants answer questions about their moods, willingness to feel upset, self-efficacy for withstanding distress, and emotion regulation strategies using a cell phone app

3 weeks

Daily assessments via app

Follow-up

Participants complete weekly reports of mental health symptoms and are monitored for changes in emotion regulation strategies and mental health symptoms

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Targeting Components of Distress Tolerance

Trial Overview The study examines how willingness to experience upset feelings and belief in one's ability to endure distress affect emotion regulation strategies. It involves answering questions via an app, lab interventions, and using intervention skills prompted by the app.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Willingness (Only) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Single session intervention focused on increasing willingness to allow distress. Will include brief psychoeducation about emotion, then a discussion of values and how allowing and experiencing emotions nourishes values, experiencing discomfort enhances growth. Will use stressors from the prior week as examples.

Group II: Self-Efficacy (Only) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Single session intervention focusing on increasing self-efficacy to manage distress. Will include brief psychoeducation about emotion, then a focus on agency and self-criticism, using stressors the participant provided from the previous week, with an aim to teach self-compassion skills that will improve self-efficacy.

Group III: Combined Willingness and Self-Efficacy Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Single session intervention focused on increasing both willingness and self-efficacy. Will include brief psychoeducation about emotion, then a combination of using values and self-compassion to increase both allowing and self-efficacy.

Group IV: Psychoeducational Control Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants will receive psychoeducation only

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

24

Recruited

2,100+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11059676/

Feeling more confident to encounter negative emotions The current study examined distress tolerance as a mediator of the relationship between self-efficacy and ERP outcomes.

2. mental.jmir.org mental.jmir.org/2024/1/e50399/PDF

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Potential Efficacy of a Self- ... This 8-week waitlist-controlled RCT delivered video trainings on mindfulness. (2 wk), addiction (2 wk), emotion regulation (3 wk), and distress.

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/347526349_Perceived_willpower_self-efficacy_fluctuates_dynamically_with_affect_and_distress_intolerance

Perceived willpower self-efficacy fluctuates dynamically ... Results revealed that higher willpower self-efficacy was associated with lower negative affect and greater positive affect, and, lower willpower self-efficacy ...

4. scholarworks.uark.edu scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7314&context=etd

The Influence of Social Connection on Distress Tolerance More thinking about the confederate was related to lower willingness and self-efficacy to engage with distress. Higher use of interpersonal emotion regulation ...

5. files.eric.ed.gov files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1437207.pdf

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills in ... This systematic literature review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of DBT skills in managing emotional dysregulation and reducing mood ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9549621/

The self-efficacy in distress tolerance scale (SE-DT) The results indicate that the SE-DT can adequately measure the construct of self-efficacy with regard to dealing with distress and emotional crises.

7. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000024

A mixed methods longitudinal case study exploring the impact ... Descriptive analyses showed mean total scores of entrapment and self-compassion decreased and increased at 3-month follow-up respectively. Mean total scores of ...

8. kdhcollective.kdholmeslpc.com kdhcollective.kdholmeslpc.com/kdh-collective/riding-the-waves-of-erp-when-therapy-is-the-storm

Riding the Waves of ERP: When Therapy is the Storm What Predicts Outcomes: Self-Efficacy and Distress Tolerance · The client's belief in their ability to face difficult experiences (self-efficacy).