Using positive activities in therapy for depression and emotion regulation
Incorporating Positive Affect Into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder and Severe Emotion Dysregulation
This study is testing if adding fun and positive activities to regular therapy helps adults with depression and emotional struggles feel better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, Ohio) |
| Trial ID | NCT06432959 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study tests whether adding positive affect promoting activities to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) improves treatment outcomes for adults with depression and emotion dysregulation. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive standard therapy or therapy enhanced with positive activities. The study will take place in two clinics, one focusing on CBT for depression and the other on DBT for emotion dysregulation. Outcomes will be measured at various points during the treatment to assess symptoms, therapy engagement, and emotional processes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or severe emotion dysregulation.
Not a fit: Patients who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for depression or borderline personality disorder may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies for patients with depression and emotion regulation issues.
How similar studies have performed: While the incorporation of positive activities in therapy is a promising approach, the specific combination tested in this study is relatively novel and has not been extensively studied.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Clinic-specific inclusion criteria are as follows. For the clinic providing CBT for depression, participants must meet criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5). They must also be able to attend in-person sessions or have access to a reliable internet connection to participate in virtual sessions. For the clinic providing DBT, participants must evidence severe emotion dysregulation defined as (1) meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) or (2) elevated indicators of borderline personality pathology defined as average scores of 1.5 on the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) Negative Affectivity scale and 1.25 on the Antagonism scale and/or 1.25 on the Disinhibition scale. They must also be willing and able to attend in-person sessions. Across both clinics, the following inclusion and exclusion criteria will be applied: Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18 years old or older 2. residence in the state of Ohio 3. able and willing to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. current or past diagnosis of bipolar disorder or a psychotic disorder 2. presence of a psychiatric disorder other than Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or BPD, if it constitutes the predominant aspect of the clinical presentation and if it requires treatment other than that being offered (including substance use disorders involving heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine deemed inappropriate at pre-screening) 3. currently participating in a psychosocial treatment for an emotional disorder, including any individual psychotherapy 4. if on psychiatric medication, no changes to medication regimen (drugs or dosage) in the past month and no intention to modify medication regimen for the next 12 weeks 5. clear indication of secondary gain (e.g., court-ordered treatment) 6. current suicide risk of medical instability (e.g., low weight) to preclude treatment on an outpatient basis
Where this trial is running
Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jennifer S Cheavens, PhD
- Email: cheavens.1@osu.edu
- Phone: 614-247-6733
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.