Testing Process Based Therapy in Routine Care for Depression and Anxiety
Official title: Process Based Therapy Applicability, Effectiveness and Compatibility (PBACE). A Within Therapist Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effectiveness of Process Based Therapy in Routine Patient Care and Assessing Its Influence on Therapist Decision Making
Run by Goethe University · NCT07704138 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests a Process Based Therapy approach in regular clinical care to see if it helps adults with depressive or anxiety disorders compared with standard therapy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Goethe University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Frankfurt am Main, Hesse) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 27, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 1, 2029 |
| Study ends | January 1, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | July 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07704138 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18-65 with a primary depressive or anxiety disorder who speak German and can participate in regular psychotherapy while keeping medication unchanged.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with significant suicidality, substance use disorders, certain personality, psychotic, eating, bipolar disorders, or severe medical illness may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
In a naturalistic setting, therapists will treat two patients each, randomized to receive either Process Based Therapy (PBT) or routine psychotherapy. The study will measure treatment outcomes before and after the therapy period while keeping medications constant. It will also explore how providing EMA data to therapists may influence their treatment decisions and planning. Thirty therapists and sixty patients are involved, with sessions focused on patients’ empirically identified maladaptive processes. The investigation aims to determine both the effectiveness of PBT and the impact of EMA-informed data on clinical decision-making.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PBT could improve personalized care for depression and anxiety and guide therapists using real-time patient data.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilots suggest feasibility and potential benefits, but robust effectiveness in routine care remains to be demonstrated.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * A primary ICD-11 diagnosis of a depressive or anxiety disorder * Age 18-65 years * Sufficient knowledge of the German language * Participating patients are not required to discontinue medication, but to keep medication constant over the treatment period Exclusion Criteria: * Increased suicidality * Substance abuse or dependency * diagnosis of a cluster A or B (DSM-5) personality disorder * pervasive developmental disorder, psychotic disorder, eating disorder, bipolar disorder, or severe physical illness.
Where it's running
-
JWGUniversity
Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ulrich Stangier, PhD — Goethe Universität Frankfurt
- Study coordinator: Ulrich Stangier, PhD
- Email: stangier@psych.uni-frankfurt.de
- Phone: 049 1707339293
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.