Stappvoorstap: support for adults waiting for mental healthcare
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
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.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 54 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | GGZ Centraal Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Almere Stad, Flevoland) |
| Trial ID | NCT07391072 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Almere Stad, Flevoland
- GGZ Centraal — Almere Stad, Flevoland, Netherlands (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sevda Demirel, MSc
- Email: s.demirel@ggzcentraal.nl
- Phone: +31 6 57511938
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.