Improving how people tolerate upsetting feelings
Targeting Components of Distress Tolerance
This project will test whether brief trainings that increase willingness to feel upset and boost confidence for withstanding distress help adults with high emotional distress use better emotion-regulation strategies in daily life.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 240 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Fayetteville, Arkansas) |
| Trial ID | NCT06570603 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults with elevated depression, anxiety, or stress symptoms and higher distress intolerance use a smartphone app to report moods, willingness to feel upset, self-efficacy for withstanding distress, and emotion-regulation strategies multiple times per day for three weeks. Participants receive brief, targeted interventions focused on willingness, self-efficacy, or psychoeducation delivered through the app and related materials. The trial examines whether these trainings change momentary emotion-regulation strategy use and whether such changes are linked to reductions in mental health symptoms over time. Baseline and follow-up questionnaires supplement the daily phone-based measurements to track symptom change.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults fluent in English who own an Android or iPhone, can regularly access their phone and internet, and have elevated symptom scores (DASS-21 ≥ 42) and Distress Intolerance Index ≥ 3 are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a smartphone or reliable internet, those whose work or school prevents consistent phone access, and individuals with low symptom or distress-intolerance scores are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help people manage upsetting emotions more effectively and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by improving moment-to-moment emotion regulation.
How similar studies have performed: Acceptance-based and self-efficacy interventions (for example, ACT and DBT skills training) have shown promise for improving distress tolerance and emotion regulation, but delivering brief targeted trainings via smartphone with intensive daily measurement is a relatively new approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Fluent in English * Uses Android or iPhone smartphone * Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) scores of 42 and higher * Distress Intolerance Index (DII) scores of 3 or higher Exclusion Criteria: * Work or School that does not allow consistent access to phone (or is unsafe) * No internet access for completing follow-up surveys
Where this trial is running
Fayetteville, Arkansas
- University of Arkansas - Fayetteville — Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jennifer C Veilleux, PhD
- Email: jcveille@uark.edu
- Phone: 479-575-5329
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.