AzTrials
AzTrials

Emotional DistressNCT06103149

The Role of Cognitive Flexibility in Mindfulness Intervention: a Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Study

A study testing Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress(MIED) in people with Emotional Distress, run by Xinghua Liu at 1 site in China.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This study hopes to: explore the relationship between mindfulness mediation experiences and emotional distress and cognitive flexibility levels. explore whether mindfulness interventions can significantly alleviate individual emotional distress and improve cognitive flexibility level. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Emotional Distress
What is being tested?
Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress(MIED)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
200 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
28 Oct 2023to 24 Dec 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Subjects with scores greater than 21 on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale(study 2).
  • Subjects with mindfulness experiences (study 1,only test in baseline).

Who cannot join

  • study 2:
  • Subjects who could not access the Internet; Subjects with insufficient Chinese ability; Subjects who have participated in mindfulness based projects for more than 6 weeks before, and / or the current frequency of meditation practice is more than once a week; Patients with schizophrenia or psychotic affective disorder, current organic mental disorder, substance abuse disorder and generalized developmental disorder; Subjects at risk of suicide.
  • study 1: Subjects who could not access the Internet; Subjects with insufficient Chinese ability; Patients with schizophrenia or psychotic affective disorder, current organic mental disorder, substance abuse disorder and generalized developmental disorder; Subjects at risk of suicide.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Peking University

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100871

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: The Role of Cognitive Flexibility in Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress: a Study Based on Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (FNIRS)

This study hopes to:

explore the relationship between mindfulness mediation experiences and emotional distress and cognitive flexibility levels.

explore whether mindfulness interventions can significantly alleviate individual emotional distress and improve cognitive flexibility level.

explore whether cognitive flexibility is a mediator in mindfulness intervention to alleviate emotional distress, and to meet the principles of mechanism.

explore the brain functional characteristics and changes during the mindfulness intervention.

Read the detailed description

Cognitive flexibility is a component of executive function, which refers to the ability to transform cognitive models to adapt to changing environmental needs.

Studies have shown that people with less cognitive flexibility are less effective at using cognitive restructuring techniques to alleviate emotional distress than those with better cognitive flexibility, which seems to predict the level of cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility levels at the three-month follow-up period were significantly negatively correlated with depression levels and suicidal ideation, and higher levels of cognitive flexibility at baseline significantly predicted lower levels of depression and suicidal ideation in military personnel at the three-month follow-up period. Task switching task was used to measure emotional cognitive flexibility, and explored whether individual differences in cognitive flexibility predicted higher levels of trait anxiety and worry within seven weeks. The results showed that emotional cognitive flexibility in the baseline period seemed to predict anxiety and worry levels after seven weeks.

There is a significant positive correlation between mindfulness and cognitive flexibility. One study compared the changes of cognitive flexibility between the mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention group and the waiting control group in a randomized controlled study of patients with mild to moderate depression. The results showed that the self-reported cognitive flexibility of the MBCT intervention group was significantly higher than that of the waiting control group, and was significantly correlated with the relief of depressive symptoms.

Generally speaking, exploring the mechanism of the effect of mindfulness-based intervention on emotional distress is helpful to strengthen the positive components of the intervention to optimize the therapeutic effect, distinguish the specificity of treatment from the broader non-specific effect, promote the identification of therapeutic regulators and the matching of therapeutic individuals, and provide information for theoretical development and interpretation of results. With the rapid development of online projects and online platforms, online mindfulness courses begin to receive more and more attention, and show a good application prospect. However, there are few studies on online mindfulness courses at present. In order to better understand the effectiveness of online mindfulness courses, more randomized controlled trials need to be done in the future.

Therefore, this study will explore the relationship between mindfulness experiences and cognitive flexibility. Then, we will explore the effect of mindfulness intervention on emotional distress and the mechanism of cognitive flexibility based on the basic criterion to judge the mechanism of psychological intervention.Futher, this study hopes to explore the brain functional characteristics and changes during the mindfulness intervention.

Being tested
Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress(MIED)

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress(MIED)Behavioural

    The MIED program integrates the rationales and practices from the Unified Protocol for Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) and Mindfulness based Interventions. Formal mindfulness exercises (e.g., body scan, mindful breathing, and mindful stretching) and informal mindfulness practices (e.g., mindful tooth brushing) were adapted from Mindfulness based intervention (MBIs). The offline received the 8-week (2.5-h per week) sessions.The online MIED program was delivered by a Chat Mini Program and lasted for 49 days. Each day, participants received different materials including (a) an audio recording of mindfulness meditation guidance; (b) learning materials in text or audio; and (c) assignments (for example, informal mindfulness practice, emotion journal, and challenging tasks). In total, it took about 30 min per day to finish all the tasks.

Study groups in NCT06103149
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MIED groupExperimentalprovide standard audio instructions for mindfulness exercises, introduce the nature and law of anxiety, depression and other emotions, the source of anxiety, depression and other emotional distress, and the strategies and methods to alleviate emotional distress. These exercises, knowledge and strategies are based on the latest progress in the field of psychological counseling and treatment, and their application in daily life can help alleviate anxiety, depression and other emotional problems
Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress(MIED)
Waitlist control groupNo interventionNot described

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Weekly changes of Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire during the intervention

    The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire is a self-reported questionnaire measuring mindfulness levels. Scores range from 39 to 195, with higher scores indicating higher levels of mindfulness.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  2. Weekly changes of 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale during the intervention

    The 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale is a self-reported questionnaire measuring distress. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating higher levels of distress.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  3. Weekly changes of Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale during the intervention

    The Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale is a self-reported questionnaire measuring anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  4. Weekly changes of Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale during the intervention

    The Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale is a self-reported questionnaire measuring depression. Scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  5. Weekly changes of Cognitive flexibility Inventory during the intervention

    Cognitive flexibility Inventory is a self-reported questionnaire measuring Cognitive flexibility level.Scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of Cognitive flexibility.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  6. Weekly changes of experiences questionnaire during the intervention

    experiences questionnaire is a self-reported questionnaire measuring decentralization ability. Scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of Decentralized ability.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  7. Weekly changes of Beck Depression Inventory during the intervention

    Beck Depression Inventory is a self-reported questionnaire measuring depression level.Scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  8. Weekly changes of Beck Anxiety Inventory during the intervention

    Beck Anxiety Inventory is a self-reported questionnaire measuring Anxiety level.Scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating higher levels of Anxiety.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  9. Weekly changes of Emotion Regulation Questionnaire during the intervention

    Emotion Regulation Questionnaire is a self-reported questionnaire measuring cognitive reappraisal level.Scores range from 6 to 42, with higher scores indicating higher levels of cognitive reappraisal ability.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  10. Weekly changes of Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire during the intervention

    Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire is a self-reported questionnaire measuring Rumination level.Scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores indicating higher levels of Rumination.

    Measured: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Task Switching Task

    The measurement of cognitive flexibility comes from the task switching paradigm, in which participants are required to classify emotional images according to "emotional task rules" or "non-emotional task rules". In emotional task rules, participants are instructed to classify images according to whether the depicted scene is positive or negative. For non-emotional task rules, participants must indicate whether the number of people in the graph is one or none (≤ 1), or two or more (≥ 2). Even if there is only a part of a person's body, it counts. The image is taken from the International emotional Image system (International Affective Picture System,IAPS). There are 40 pictures in each category: ≤ 1 person + positive, ≥ 2 + positive, ≤ 1 person + negative, ≥ 2 + negative, a total of 160 pictures. Positive and negative images differ in titer ratings, but are balanced in evocative ratings. Another 20 pictures are used for the practice module.

    Measured: pre-intervention; the third week and fifth week during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

  2. Wisconsin card sorting task

    The WCST consists of four stimulus cards, each in red, green, blue and yellow colors, with 1 to 4 triangles, stars, crosses or circles. Four of the cards feature a red triangle, two green stars, three yellow crosses, and four blue circles, and a card similar to the one at the top will appear at the bottom of the screen. All you have to do is group the card on the bottom with one on the top, and click on the top four cards that you think are similar to each other to make a choice. After making a choice, a correct or incorrect prompt will appear on the screen, if it is wrong, it does not matter, please try to choose the right choice next time.

    Measured: pre-intervention; the third week and fifth week during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Oct 2023
  2. Study start28 Oct 2023 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion20 Nov 2024 (estimated)
  4. Study completion24 Dec 2024 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
200 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06103149
Sponsor's protocol ID
E20231021
Status last verified
Oct 2023
First submitted
21 Oct 2023
Last updated
26 Oct 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress(MIED) in people with Emotional Distress, run by Xinghua Liu at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Zhenzhen Wang (13236502311, zhenzhenwang921@outlook.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Weekly changes of Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire during the intervention (time frame: pre-intervention; weekly during the 7-week intervention; after the 7-week intervention). The study lists 10 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2023; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in