Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial
BackgroundMost mental disorders first emerge in youth and, in their early stages, surface as subthreshold expressions of symptoms comprising a transdiagnostic phenotype of psychosis, mania, depression, and anxiety. Elevated stress reactivity is one of the most widely studied...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-12-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2021/12/e27462 |
| _version_ | 1797735543319035904 |
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| author | Anita Schick Isabell Paetzold Christian Rauschenberg Dusan Hirjak Tobias Banaschewski Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Jan R Boehnke Benjamin Boecking Ulrich Reininghaus |
| author_facet | Anita Schick Isabell Paetzold Christian Rauschenberg Dusan Hirjak Tobias Banaschewski Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Jan R Boehnke Benjamin Boecking Ulrich Reininghaus |
| author_sort | Anita Schick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundMost mental disorders first emerge in youth and, in their early stages, surface as subthreshold expressions of symptoms comprising a transdiagnostic phenotype of psychosis, mania, depression, and anxiety. Elevated stress reactivity is one of the most widely studied mechanisms underlying psychotic and affective mental health problems. Thus, targeting stress reactivity in youth is a promising indicated and translational preventive strategy for adverse mental health outcomes that could develop later in life and for improving resilience. Compassion-focused interventions offer a wide range of innovative therapeutic techniques that are particularly amenable to being implemented as ecological momentary interventions (EMIs), a specific type of mobile health intervention, to enable youth to access interventions in a given moment and context in daily life. This approach may bridge the current gap in youth mental health care.
ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the clinical feasibility, candidate underlying mechanisms, and initial signals of the efficacy of a novel, transdiagnostic, hybrid EMI for improving resilience to stress in youth—EMIcompass.
MethodsIn an exploratory randomized controlled trial, youth aged between 14 and 25 years with current distress, a broad Clinical High At-Risk Mental State, or the first episode of a severe mental disorder will be randomly allocated to the EMIcompass intervention (ie, EMI plus face-to-face training sessions) in addition to treatment as usual or a control condition of treatment as usual only. Primary (stress reactivity) and secondary candidate mechanisms (resilience, interpersonal sensitivity, threat anticipation, negative affective appraisals, and momentary physiological markers of stress reactivity), as well as primary (psychological distress) and secondary outcomes (primary psychiatric symptoms and general psychopathology), will be assessed at baseline, postintervention, and at the 4-week follow-up.
ResultsThe first enrollment was in August 2019, and as of May 2021, enrollment and randomization was completed (N=92). We expect data collection to be completed by August 2021.
ConclusionsThis study is the first to establish feasibility, evidence on underlying mechanisms, and preliminary signals of the efficacy of a compassion-focused EMI in youth. If successful, a confirmatory randomized controlled trial will be warranted. Overall, our approach has the potential to significantly advance preventive interventions in youth mental health provision.
Trial RegistrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017265; https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00017265
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/27462 |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:59:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92f80094d4f8473ab227a8945d1441f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:59:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj.art-92f80094d4f8473ab227a8945d1441f52023-08-28T19:55:57ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482021-12-011012e2746210.2196/27462Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled TrialAnita Schickhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2043-0353Isabell Paetzoldhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4054-4331Christian Rauschenberghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6050-3297Dusan Hirjakhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1226-9800Tobias Banaschewskihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4595-1144Andreas Meyer-Lindenberghttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5619-1123Jan R Boehnkehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0249-1870Benjamin Boeckinghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8140-3332Ulrich Reininghaushttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9227-5436 BackgroundMost mental disorders first emerge in youth and, in their early stages, surface as subthreshold expressions of symptoms comprising a transdiagnostic phenotype of psychosis, mania, depression, and anxiety. Elevated stress reactivity is one of the most widely studied mechanisms underlying psychotic and affective mental health problems. Thus, targeting stress reactivity in youth is a promising indicated and translational preventive strategy for adverse mental health outcomes that could develop later in life and for improving resilience. Compassion-focused interventions offer a wide range of innovative therapeutic techniques that are particularly amenable to being implemented as ecological momentary interventions (EMIs), a specific type of mobile health intervention, to enable youth to access interventions in a given moment and context in daily life. This approach may bridge the current gap in youth mental health care. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the clinical feasibility, candidate underlying mechanisms, and initial signals of the efficacy of a novel, transdiagnostic, hybrid EMI for improving resilience to stress in youth—EMIcompass. MethodsIn an exploratory randomized controlled trial, youth aged between 14 and 25 years with current distress, a broad Clinical High At-Risk Mental State, or the first episode of a severe mental disorder will be randomly allocated to the EMIcompass intervention (ie, EMI plus face-to-face training sessions) in addition to treatment as usual or a control condition of treatment as usual only. Primary (stress reactivity) and secondary candidate mechanisms (resilience, interpersonal sensitivity, threat anticipation, negative affective appraisals, and momentary physiological markers of stress reactivity), as well as primary (psychological distress) and secondary outcomes (primary psychiatric symptoms and general psychopathology), will be assessed at baseline, postintervention, and at the 4-week follow-up. ResultsThe first enrollment was in August 2019, and as of May 2021, enrollment and randomization was completed (N=92). We expect data collection to be completed by August 2021. ConclusionsThis study is the first to establish feasibility, evidence on underlying mechanisms, and preliminary signals of the efficacy of a compassion-focused EMI in youth. If successful, a confirmatory randomized controlled trial will be warranted. Overall, our approach has the potential to significantly advance preventive interventions in youth mental health provision. Trial RegistrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017265; https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00017265 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/27462https://www.researchprotocols.org/2021/12/e27462 |
| spellingShingle | Anita Schick Isabell Paetzold Christian Rauschenberg Dusan Hirjak Tobias Banaschewski Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Jan R Boehnke Benjamin Boecking Ulrich Reininghaus Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Effects of a Novel, Transdiagnostic, Hybrid Ecological Momentary Intervention for Improving Resilience in Youth (EMIcompass): Protocol for an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | effects of a novel transdiagnostic hybrid ecological momentary intervention for improving resilience in youth emicompass protocol for an exploratory randomized controlled trial |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2021/12/e27462 |
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