Mental Health IssueNCT06876220
The Role of Anchoring and Distraction in the Effectiveness of Mindfulness on Reducing Emotional Reactivity
A study testing Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) in people with Mental Health Issue and Emotional Adjustment, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) on the use of anchoring and distraction as emotion care/regulation strategies. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Health Issue, Emotional Adjustment
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2023to 13 Feb 2025
- 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 25 to 35 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Right-handed
- Currently registered in post-graduated program with professional counselling training
Who cannot join
- History of neurological or other disorders affecting the brain (such as encephalitis, epilepsy, birth defects, or polio)
- Have experienced a concussion, head or brain trauma, seizures, loss of consciousness
- Have been injured in the eye by a metallic foreign body.
- Have been injured by metallic foreign body (e.g. bullet, shrapnel)
- History of sickle cell anemia/kidney disease/diabetes, asthma, or allergies
- Long-term use of medication is required
Show all 26Show fewer
- Currently pregnant or breast feeding.
- Had the following conditions or implants in their body:
- Surgical clips
- Cardiac pacemaker
- Neurostimulator/internal electrodes
- Insulin pump
- Internal shunt
- Metal screen / suture
- Cochlear implants
- Hearing aid
- Eye implants/eyelid springs
- Orthopaedic devices (e.g. pins, nails, screws)
- Prosthetic heart valve
- Breast tissue expander
- Tattoo or permanent eye-lining
- Body ring
- Patch/Blood Glucose Monitor
- Dentures
- Intrauterine contraceptive device
- Metal blockage in the blood vessel/metal foreign body in the body
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Hong Kong1 site
Jockey Club "Peace and Awareness" Mindfulness Culture in Schools Initiative, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
About this study
The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) on the use of anchoring and distraction as emotion care/regulation strategies. It is hypothesized that anchoring and distraction are related but different processes, which could be evidenced by fMRI. The investigators further hypothesized that mindfulness training could lead to functional changes in the brain, which could also be evidenced by fMRI.
Read the detailed description
To test the hypotheses, the participants will be randomly allocated to either the experimental group or the waitlist control group. Both groups will complete behavioral measures and an fMRI experiment before the experimental group's intervention (T0). The experimental group will receive Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) between T0 and T1, while the waitlist control will receive no treatment during this period. Both groups will complete the behavioral measures and the fMRI experiment again after the experimental group finishes the MBCT-L course (T1).
- Conditions
- Mental Health Issue, Emotional Adjustment
- Being tested
- Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)
- Keywords
- mindfulness, emotion regulation, emotion care, distraction, anchoring
- Medical subject headings
- Emotional Regulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)Behavioural
MBCT-L is an 8-week group intervention where participants are guided to practice mindfulness and cognitive exercise. The course covers themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The course will be provided by mindfulness teachers who have completed the training offered by Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (OMF). Throughout the eight weeks, the course guides the participants through various themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The sessions involve guided mindfulness practices, reflection, discussion, inquiry, and weekly home practice. The language of instruction is Cantonese.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | Participants will receive an 8-week mindfulness-based group intervention, namely Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L). Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) |
| waitlist controlled group | No intervention | Participants in the wait-list control group will receive the same intervention, two months after the experimental group completed the intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Brain activation during the emotion care/regulation task
BOLD signal contrast when the participants performing an emotion counting Stroop task.
Measured: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)
Reaction time during the emotion care/regulation task
Reaction time of the correct response in the emotion counting Stroop task.
Measured: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)
Accuracy during the emotion care/regulation task
Accuracy of the emotion counting Stroop task.
Measured: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)
Mindfulness
The mean score of Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R, Feldman, Hayes, Kumar, Greeson, \& Laurenceau, 2007) is a self-report 5-point Likert scale measuring individual differences in mindfulness that includes 12 items. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score means a higher level of mindfulness, i.e. an expected outcome from an effective mindfulness intervention.
Measured: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
Psychological well-being
The mean score of Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS; Ryff et al., 1995) includes 18 items measuring 6 aspects of wellbeing and happiness: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = highly disagree to 5 = highly agree, to rate the 18 statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score means a higher level of psychological well-being, i.e. an expected outcome from an effective mindfulness intervention.
Measured: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
Use of distraction as a emotion care/regulation strategy
The mean scores of five items of the self-developed scale to assess the use of distraction and its connection to attentional deployment with a pilot test. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always, to rate the five statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score indicates a greater tendency to employ distraction as an emotion regulation strategy. It's important to note that the score only reflects the habitual usage of this strategy and does not imply a better or worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
Use of anchoring as a emotion care/regulation strategy
The mean score of five items of the self-developed scale to assess the use of anchoring with a pilot test. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always, to rate the five statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score indicates a greater tendency to employ distraction as an emotion regulation strategy. It's important to note that the score only reflects the habitual usage of this strategy and does not imply a better or worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Mar 2025
- Study start1 Sep 2023
- Primary completion21 Jan 2025
- Study completion13 Feb 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mental Health IssueStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Model description
- Two-armed, waitlist randomized controlled trial
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Professor Lam Shui-fong, The University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Shui-fong Lam, PhD, Study director, The University of Hong KongGloria HY Wong, Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06876220
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UHongKong(JC PandA_fMRI)
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 26 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 24 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Role of Anchoring and Distraction in the Effectiveness of Mindfulness on Reducing Emotional Reactivity
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06876220
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UHongKong(JC PandA_fMRI)
- Conditions
- Mental Health Issue, Emotional Adjustment
- Keywords
- mindfulness, emotion regulation, emotion care, distraction, anchoring
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Feb 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) on the use of anchoring and distraction as emotion care/regulation strategies. It is hypothesized that anchoring and distraction are related but different processes, which could be evidenced by fMRI. The investigators further hypothesized that mindfulness training could lead to functional changes in the brain, which could also be evidenced by fMRI.
Detailed description
To test the hypotheses, the participants will be randomly allocated to either the experimental group or the waitlist control group. Both groups will complete behavioral measures and an fMRI experiment before the experimental group's intervention (T0). The experimental group will receive Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) between T0 and T1, while the waitlist control will receive no treatment during this period. Both groups will complete the behavioral measures and the fMRI experiment again after the experimental group finishes the MBCT-L course (T1).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Two-armed, waitlist randomized controlled trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)Participants will receive an 8-week mindfulness-based group intervention, namely Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L). |
| waitlist controlled group | No intervention | –Participants in the wait-list control group will receive the same intervention, two months after the experimental group completed the intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Right-handed
- Currently registered in post-graduated program with professional counselling training
Key exclusion criteria (26 listed)
- History of neurological or other disorders affecting the brain (such as encephalitis, epilepsy, birth defects, or polio)
- Have experienced a concussion, head or brain trauma, seizures, loss of consciousness
- Have been injured in the eye by a metallic foreign body.
- Have been injured by metallic foreign body (e.g. bullet, shrapnel)
- History of sickle cell anemia/kidney disease/diabetes, asthma, or allergies
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)MBCT-L is an 8-week group intervention where participants are guided to practice mindfulness and cognitive exercise. The course covers themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The course will be provided by mindfulness teachers who have completed the training offered by Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (OMF). Throughout the eight weeks, the course guides the participants through various themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The sessions involve guided mindfulness practices, reflection, discussion, inquiry, and weekly home practice. The language of instruction is Cantonese. | Behavioural | intervention group |
Primary outcome
Brain activation during the emotion care/regulation task
Time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)
BOLD signal contrast when the participants performing an emotion counting Stroop task.
Reaction time during the emotion care/regulation task
Time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)
Reaction time of the correct response in the emotion counting Stroop task.
Accuracy during the emotion care/regulation task
Time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)
Accuracy of the emotion counting Stroop task.
Mindfulness
Time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
The mean score of Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R, Feldman, Hayes, Kumar, Greeson, \& Laurenceau, 2007) is a self-report 5-point Likert scale measuring individual differences in mindfulness that includes 12 items. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score means a higher level of mindfulness, i.e. an expected outcome from an effective mindfulness intervention.
Psychological well-being
Time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
The mean score of Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS; Ryff et al., 1995) includes 18 items measuring 6 aspects of wellbeing and happiness: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = highly disagree to 5 = highly agree, to rate the 18 statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score means a higher level of psychological well-being, i.e. an expected outcome from an effective mindfulness intervention.
Use of distraction as a emotion care/regulation strategy
Time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
The mean scores of five items of the self-developed scale to assess the use of distraction and its connection to attentional deployment with a pilot test. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always, to rate the five statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score indicates a greater tendency to employ distraction as an emotion regulation strategy. It's important to note that the score only reflects the habitual usage of this strategy and does not imply a better or worse outcome.
Use of anchoring as a emotion care/regulation strategy
Time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)
The mean score of five items of the self-developed scale to assess the use of anchoring with a pilot test. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always, to rate the five statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score indicates a greater tendency to employ distraction as an emotion regulation strategy. It's important to note that the score only reflects the habitual usage of this strategy and does not imply a better or worse outcome.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Jul 2025.
Related trials for Mental Health Issue
Active, not recruiting
Intervention to Address Disparate Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic on Latinx and African Newcomers
Mental Health Issue, Mental Health Disorder
Active, not recruiting
Digital Therapeutics for Behavior Problems
Problem Behavior, Child Behavior
Recruiting
VOCALE LBD: Online Peer Support for Caregivers of People With Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy Bodies Disease, Depression Disorder
Active, not recruiting
Tailoring CPP for the Foster Care Setting
Behavior Problem
Active, not recruiting
Supporting Health in Veterans With Heart Failure
Heart Failure
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Shui-fong Lam, PhD study director
The University of Hong Kong
Gloria HY Wong principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) in people with Mental Health Issue and Emotional Adjustment, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
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 26 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jul 2025. 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 Hong Kong. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Brain activation during the emotion care/regulation task (time frame: Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)). The study lists 7 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 24 Jul 2025.