Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

Stappvoorstap: support for adults waiting for mental healthcare

Official title: Bridging the Gap: A Multiple Baseline Design Study on the Effectiveness of a Mobile-based Stress Management Intervention in Adults on Waiting Lists for Mental Healthcare

Run by GGZ Centraal · NCT07391072 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will test whether the Stappvoorstap mobile app can reduce stress and improve coping and quality of life for adults on mental health waiting lists in the Netherlands.

More Mental Health trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment54 (estimated)
SponsorGGZ Centraal
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Almere Stad, Flevoland)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMarch 17, 2025
Main results expectedDecember 2027
Study endsDecember 2027
Registry record updatedFebruary 5, 2026
Trial IDNCT07391072 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults (18+) in the Netherlands who are currently on a mental health service waiting list, own and can operate a smartphone, and have at least B1 proficiency in Dutch or English are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

People in an acute crisis, those already actively receiving treatment, those unable to use a smartphone, or with insufficient language skills are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study uses a nonconcurrent multiple baseline single-case A-B-A design in which participants are randomly assigned to 3, 4, or 5 weeks of baseline monitoring, followed by 4 weeks of app use and a 3-week follow-up. The Stappvoorstap app prompts users 2–4 times daily to rate perceived stress, visualizes individual stress patterns, and offers real-time coping suggestions, relaxation exercises, informational articles, and peer stories. Weekly standardized measures (PSS-10, CSES-13, WHOQOL-BREF) are collected and both group-level mixed-effects models and individual Tau-(BC) effect size analyses will be performed. Recruitment targets adults on mental health waiting lists across the Netherlands and participation is conducted remotely via participants' smartphones.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, the app could reduce stress and support coping and quality of life during waiting periods, potentially preventing symptom worsening before formal treatment begins.

How similar studies have gone: Related mobile self-management and ecological momentary interventions have shown promise for reducing stress and improving coping, but evidence specifically for waitlist-targeted apps is still limited.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Currently on a waiting list at a mental health organization in the Netherlands.
* Aged 18 years or older
* Owns a smartphone and has the ability to operate it
* Sufficient proficiency in Dutch or English language (at least B1 level)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Currently enrolled in another medical-scientific research study

Where it's running

  • GGZ Centraal
    Almere Stad, Flevoland, Netherlands
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.