Two-week smartphone program to boost reward response in people with anhedonia
Official title: Ecological Momentary Intervention for Reward in Anhedonia
Run by Philipps University Marburg · NCT07155941 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether three brief daily smartphone audio exercises teaching positive imagery, savoring, gratitude, and related skills can reduce anhedonia and psychological distress in German-speaking adults with elevated anhedonia and depression.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Philipps University Marburg Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Marburg, Hesse) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 18, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 2026 |
| Study ends | January 2026 |
| Registry record updated | January 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07155941 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
German-speaking adults who own a smartphone and have clinically elevated anhedonia (SHAPS ≥ 25) and elevated depression (DASS-21-Depression ≥ 10) plus elevated anxiety or stress, and who are not on psychotropic medication or in psychotherapy, are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People taking psychotropic medications, currently in or planning psychotherapy, or with suicidality, bipolar disorder, or psychotic episodes are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this brief app-based intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants are assigned to either an experimental ecological momentary intervention (three daily audio exercises targeting reward anticipation, consumption, and learning) or an active control (progressive muscle relaxation) delivered via a smartphone app over two weeks. Exercises include positive mental imagery, savoring, taking ownership of positive experiences, gratitude, and cognitive reframing, designed to strengthen reward processing. Key eligibility requires clinically elevated anhedonia (SHAPS ≥ 25) and elevated depression (DASS-21-Depression ≥ 10) plus elevated anxiety or stress, with exclusions for psychotropic medication, ongoing/planned psychotherapy, suicidality, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. Outcomes focus on changes in anhedonia and related depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms following the two-week intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could quickly increase pleasure and motivation and reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms through a low-cost, accessible smartphone program.
How similar studies have gone: Component-based positive affect interventions such as Positive Affect Treatment have shown promising early results, but fully smartphone-delivered ecological momentary interventions for anhedonia are relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * German speaking * Smartphone available and willingness to participate in repeated training units and questions delivered via app * Clinically elevated anhedonia (SHAPS \>= 25) and elevated depression (DASS-21-Depression \>= 10), elevated anxiey (DASS-21-Anxiety \>= 6) or elevated stress (DASS-21-Stress \>= 10) Exclusion Criteria: * Psychotropic medication * Psychotherapy currently ongoing or planned during participation * Suicidality, lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorders or psychotic episodes
Where it's running
-
Philipps-University Marburg
Marburg, Hesse, Germany Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Martin J Skopp, M.Sc.
- Email: martin.skopp@uni-marburg.de
- Phone: +4964212827106
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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.