Emotional DysregulationNCT07008209
Comparing the Effectiveness of Reappraisal Strategies in Adult Participants
A study testing Reconstrual Strategy Training and Repurposing Strategy Training in people with Emotional Dysregulation and Anxiety, run by Ibn Haldun University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which reappraisal strategy works better to reduce sadness and anxiety in emerging adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: What is the effect of emotion regulation strategies (reconstrual, repurposing) on short term negative emotions (anxiety, sadness)? Does the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Emotional Dysregulation, Anxiety, Sadness
- What is being tested?
- Reconstrual Strategy Training and Repurposing Strategy Training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 233 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 21 Sep 2025to 10 Jan 2026
- 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 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18-30 years
- Fluent in Turkish
- No current psychiatric treatment or diagnosis (self-reported)
- Willingness to participate and provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- History of severe psychiatric or neurological disorders
- Current substance use disorder
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparing the Effects of Reconstrual and Repurposing Reappraisal Strategies on Sadness and Anxiety in Emerging Adults: A Brief Intervention
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which reappraisal strategy works better to reduce sadness and anxiety in emerging adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
What is the effect of emotion regulation strategies (reconstrual, repurposing) on short term negative emotions (anxiety, sadness)?
Read more
Does the effectiveness of these strategies vary depending on the type of emotion (anxiety vs. sadness)?
Are reconstrual and repurposing more effective compared to active and passive control conditions?
What is the effect of these strategies on short-term positive emotions (e.g., hope, happiness)?
Researchers will compare reconstrual and repurposing strategies to see which one is more effective in improving emotional outcomes.
Participants will:
be randomly assigned to one of eight conditions in a 4 (Regulation Strategy: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) × 2 (Emotion Type: Sadness vs. Anxiety) factorial design.
Complete online tasks and surveys about their emotions
Read the detailed description
This study evaluates the effectiveness of two cognitive reappraisal strategies-reconstrual (reinterpreting the meaning of an event) and repurposing (modifying the personal goal related to the event)-in reducing negative affect and enhancing positive affect in response to emotion-evoking scenarios in emerging adults.
Participants (at least N = 240) will be randomly assigned to one of eight groups in a 2 (Emotion: Sadness vs. Anxiety) × 4 (Strategy: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) between-subjects factorial design. Each participant will complete standardized emotional induction tasks via written scenarios, followed by their assigned intervention.
Hypotheses
H1: Negative emotions (sadness or anxiety) will significantly decrease following the intervention in the reconstrual and repurposing groups compared to the active and passive control groups. (Main effect of strategy on negative affect)
H2: Positive emotions will increase more in the reconstrual and repurposing groups compared to the passive control group. (Main effect of strategy on positive affect)
H3 (Exploratory): The effectiveness of reconstrual and repurposing strategies may vary by emotion type:
Repurposing may be more effective in sadness scenarios.
Reconstrual may be more effective in anxiety scenarios. (Emotion Type × Strategy interaction)
H4: No significant emotional change is expected in the passive control group. (No time effect)
Study Design
Design Type: Experimental, between-subjects factorial design Design Structure: 2 (Emotion Type: Sadness vs. Anxiety) × 4 (Strategy Condition: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) Participants: Minimum N = 240 (n = 30 per group), emerging adults (ages ~18-30) Randomization: Random assignment to 1 of 8 groups Blinding: Participants are blind to condition purpose Type of Analysis: Mixed ANOVA
Within-Subject Factor: Time (Post-Scenario vs. Post-Intervention) Between-Subject Factors: Emotion Type × Strategy Group Dependent Variables: Emotional ratings post-intervention (Negative affect (VAS/SAM: anxiety, sadness); Positive affect (VAS/SAM).
Study Flow
- Initial Assessment Demographics: Only name and age Baseline measures: Scale for contextual reappraisal (SCORE; for trait-level reconstrual and repurposing), GAD-7, PHQ-9
- Neutral Stimulus A standardized neutral video from Samson et al. (2016) study.
- Baseline Emotion Assesments: Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
- Random Group Assignment Participants randomly assigned to one of eight groups (n=30 per group): Sadness - Reconstrual Sadness - Repurposing Sadness - Active Control Sadness - Passive Control Anxiety - Reconstrual Anxiety - Repurposing Anxiety - Active Control Anxiety - Passive Control
- Training Phase Strategy-specific training with a minimum 90-second reading time enforced Practice vignette with 30-second enforced reading and comprehension check Correct answers allow progression; incorrect answers trigger explanation and acknowledgment before continuing Participants rate prior use of the trained strategy in daily life
- Scenario Exposure Participants read and imagine a standardized written scenario (sadness or anxiety) matched for intensity and controllability (based on pilot data)
40-second enforced reading time
- Self-Assessment and Rating VAS and SAM administered
Ratings of scenario imaginability and controllability (0-100 scale)
Participants write their first negative thoughts when imagining the scenario
- Application Phase Participants apply assigned emotion regulation strategy with 90-second minimum enforced duration
Written brief explanation of alternative thoughts used
Post-application ratings with VAS and SAM
Participants rate effectiveness and belief in their reappraisal thoughts (0-100 scale)
- Manipulation Check In the form of two multiple-choice questions: Participants will be asked to select the instruction that best matched the guideline they received at the beginning of the experiment and to identify the general topic of the scenario they had visualized.
- Demographics: Exclusion criteria related questions 11. Debriefing Participants view debriefing statement
- Conditions
- Emotional Dysregulation, Anxiety, Sadness, Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms, Depressive Symptoms
- Being tested
- Reconstrual Strategy Training, Repurposing Strategy Training, Active Control
- Keywords
- emotion regulation, reappraisal, cognitive reappraisal, repurposing, reconstrual, anxiety, sadness, emerging adults
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Emotional Regulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Reconstrual Strategy TrainingBehavioural
Participants receive training in the reconstrual strategy, which involves recognizing and reinterpreting initial negative appraisals of emotionally challenging situations. The training guides participants to:
Identify the situation and their initial negative interpretation.
Generate alternative, balanced explanations that reduce negative emotional impact.
The goal is to help participants view events from a different, realistic perspective to decrease negative emotions by modifying how they interpret situations.
Repurposing Strategy TrainingBehavioural
Participants receive training in the repurposing strategy, which involves adjusting or replacing personal goals to better align with the current situation. The training guides participants to:
Identify the situation and the original goal that was not met.
Develop alternative, realistic goals or modify existing ones to reduce the emotional impact of unmet expectations.
This approach helps participants manage negative emotions by creating meaningful, adaptable goals that fit the reality of the situation.
Active ControlBehavioural
Participants are asked to carefully copy a neutral descriptive passage without making any changes, focusing solely on transcription accuracy. This task serves as an active control by engaging participants in a cognitive task that requires attention and effort, but does not involve emotion regulation strategies. The task controls for the effects of engagement and time spent on a task without influencing participants' emotional processing.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sadness - Reconstrual | Experimental | Participants in this arm are exposed to sadness-related scenario and trained to use the reconstrual strategy, which involves reinterpreting the meaning of the situation to reduce negative emotions. Training is delivered online via Qualtrics and includes practice vignette. After training, participants apply reconstrual to the scenario to regulate their emotional response. Receives: Behavioral: Reconstrual Strategy Training |
| Sadness - Repurposing | Experimental | Participants view sadness-related scenario and receive training in repurposing, which focuses on changing the goal to alleviate negative feelings. Training and practice exercises are provided online through Qualtrics before applying the strategy to the scenario. Receives: Behavioral: Repurposing Strategy Training |
| Sadness - Active Control | Active comparator | Participants are presented with sadness-related scenario followed by a writing distraction task designed to divert attention from negative emotions. This arm controls for the effect of engaging in an active cognitive task unrelated to emotion regulation. Receives: Behavioral: Active Control |
| Sadness - Passive Control | No intervention | Participants view sadness-related scenario but do not receive any emotion regulation training or distraction tasks. This arm serves as a baseline to measure natural emotional change over time. |
| Anxiety - Reconstrual | Experimental | Participants are trained in reconstrual to reinterpret and reduce the perceived threat or negative appraisal of the situation and exposed to anxiety-inducing scenario. The online training includes practice vignette, followed by application of the strategy to the scenario. Receives: Behavioral: Reconstrual Strategy Training |
| Anxiety - Repurposing | Experimental | Participants view anxiety-related scenarios and receive training in repurposing, which focuses on changing the goal to alleviate negative feelings. Training and practice exercises are provided online through Qualtrics before applying the strategy to the scenario. Receives: Behavioral: Repurposing Strategy Training |
| Anxiety - Active Control | Active comparator | Participants are presented with anxiety-related scenario followed by a writing distraction task designed to divert attention from negative emotions. This arm controls for the effect of engaging in an active cognitive task unrelated to emotion regulation. Receives: Behavioral: Active Control |
| Anxiety - Passive Control | No intervention | Participants view anxiety-related scenario but do not receive any emotion regulation training or distraction tasks. This arm serves as a baseline to measure natural emotional change over time. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Negative Affect
(VAS; scale 0-100)
Participants rate how intensely they feel a target negative emotion (sadness or anxiety) using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 0 ("Not at all") to 100 ("Extremely").
Assessment Points:
Time 1: After reading the emotionally evocative vignette (baseline).
Time 2: After completing the assigned emotion regulation strategy (post-intervention)
Measured: Immediately after vignette exposure vs. immediately after intervention
Change in valence and arousal
Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) ratings [Time Frame: Before vs. after intervention]
A nonverbal pictorial measure of emotional response that assesses two dimensions:
Valence (pleasant-unpleasant)
Arousal (high-low) on a 1-9 scale
Measured: Immediately after vignette exposure vs. immediately after intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Positive Affect
(VAS; scale 0-100)
Measured: Immediately after vignette exposure vs. immediately after intervention
PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire)
Description: A 9-item measure of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks.
Scoring: 0-27 total score
Cutoffs:
5 = mild 10 = moderate 15 = moderately severe 20 = severe
Use: may explain individual differences in affective response or strategy preference.
Measured: Baseline
GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale)
Description: A 7-item scale assessing anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks.
Scoring: 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day); total score range: 0-21
Cutoffs:
5 = mild 10 = moderate 15 = severe
Assessment Point: baseline
Use: As a moderator variable to assess if baseline anxiety affects strategy effectiveness.
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Jun 2025
- Study start21 Sep 2025
- Primary completion5 Jan 2026
- Study completion10 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Emotional DysregulationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Model description
- This study uses a 2 (Emotion Type: Sadness vs. Anxiety) × 4 (Strategy Type: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) between-subjects factorial design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of eight experimental groups. Each participant is exposed to an emotionally evocative scenario (either sadness or anxiety), followed by an intervention based on their assigned strategy condition. The aim is to examine the main and interaction effects of strategy type and emotion type on changes in emotional experience before and after the intervention. Study Type: Interventional Design: Randomized, 2 × 4 between-subject factorial design Factors: Emotion Type (Sadness vs. Anxiety) × Strategy (Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) Within-Subjects: Time (Post-Scenario vs. Post-Intervention) Allocation: Randomized Masking: Single-blind Primary Purpose: Basic Science
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 233 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ibn Haldun University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Meryem Söğüt Kahramanlar, Ibn Haldun University
- Investigators
- Ayşe ALTAN-ATALAY, Assoc. Prof. Dr, Principal investigator, Kadir Has UniversityBurcu UYSAL, Assoc. Prof. Dr, Principal investigator, Ibn Haldun University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07008209
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E-71395021-050.04-50851
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 29 May 2025
- Last updated
- 27 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: De-identified individual participant data will be shared upon reasonable request after publication, following approval from the ethics committee and under a data use agreement.
Publications
Samson AC, Kreibig SD, Soderstrom B, Wade AA, Gross JJ. Eliciting positive, negative and mixed emotional states: A film library for affective scientists. Cogn Emot. 2016 Aug;30(5):827-56. doi: 10.1080/02699931.2015.1031089. Epub 2015 May 1.
PubMed 25929696Kam JWY, Wan-Sai-Cheong L, Zuk AAO, Mehta A, Dixon ML, Gross JJ. A brief reappraisal intervention leads to durable affective benefits. Emotion. 2024 Oct;24(7):1676-1688. doi: 10.1037/emo0001391. Epub 2024 Jun 20.
PubMed 38900559Uusberg A, Yih J, Taxer JL, Christ NM, Toms T, Uusberg H, Gross JJ. Appraisal shifts during reappraisal. Emotion. 2023 Oct;23(7):1985-2001. doi: 10.1037/emo0001202. Epub 2023 Feb 6.
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Mioni G, Cellini N, Chen SC, Zickfeld J, Moon K, Azab H, Levy N, Karababa A, Beaudry JL, Boucher L, Collins WM, Todsen AL, van Schie K, Vintr J, Bavolar J, Kaliska L, Krizanic V, Samojlenko L, Pourafshari R, Geiger SJ, Beitner J, Warmelink L, Ross RM, Stephen ID, Hostler TJ, Azouaghe S, McCarthy R, Szala A, Grano C, Solorzano CS, Anjum G, Jimenez-Leal W, Bradford M, Perez LC, Cruz Vasquez JE, Galindo-Caballero OJ, Vargas-Nieto JC, Kacha O, Arvanitis A, Xiao Q, Carcamo R, Zorjan S, Tajchman Z, Vilares I, Pavlacic JM, Kunst JR, Tamnes CK, von Bastian CC, Atari M, Sharifian M, Hricova M, Kacmar P, Schrotter J, Rahal RM, Cohen N, FatahModares S, Zrimsek M, Zakharov I, Koehn MA, Esteban-Serna C, Calin-Jageman RJ, Krafnick AJ, Strukelj E, Isager PM, Urban J, Silva JR, Martoncik M, Ocovaj SB, Sakan D, Kuzminska AO, Djordjevic JM, Almeida IAT, Ferreira A, Lazarevic LB, Manley H, Ricaurte DZ, Monteiro RP, Etabari Z, Musser E, Dunleavy D, Chou W, Godbersen H, Ruiz-Fernandez S, Reeck C, Batres C, Kirgizova K, Muminov A, Azevedo F, Alvarez DS, Butt MM, Lee JM, Chen Z, Verbruggen F, Ziano I, Tumer M, Charyate ACA, Dubrov D, Tejada Rivera MDCMC, Aberson C, Palfi B, Maldonado MA, Hubena B, Sacakli A, Ceary CD, Richard KL, Singer G, Perillo JT, Ballantyne T, Cyrus-Lai W, Fedotov M, Du H, Wielgus M, Pit IL, Hruska M, Sousa D, Aczel B, Hajdu N, Szaszi B, Adamus S, Barzykowski K, Micheli L, Schmidt ND, Zsido AN, Paruzel-Czachura M, Muda R, Bialek M, Kowal M, Sorokowska A, Misiak M, Mola D, Ortiz MV, Correa PS, Belaus A, Muchembled F, Ribeiro RR, Arriaga P, Oliveira R, Vaughn LA, Szwed P, Kossowska M, Czarnek G, Kielinska J, Antazo B, Betlehem R, Stieger S, Nilsonne G, Simonovic N, Taber J, Gourdon-Kanhukamwe A, Domurat A, Ihaya K, Yamada Y, Urooj A, Gill T, Cadek M, Bylinina L, Messerschmidt J, Kurfali M, Adetula A, Baklanova E, Albayrak-Aydemir N, Kappes HB, Gjoneska B, House T, Jones MV, Berkessel JB, Chopik WJ, Coksan S, Seehuus M, Khaoudi A, Bokkour A, El Arabi KA, Djamai I, Iyer A, Parashar N, Adiguzel A, Kocalar HE, Bundt C, Norton JO, Papadatou-Pastou M, De la Rosa-Gomez A, Ankushev V, Bogatyreva N, Grigoryev D, Ivanov A, Prusova I, Romanova M, Sarieva I, Terskova M, Hristova E, Kadreva VH, Janak A, Schei V, Sverdrup TE, Askelund AD, Pineda LMS, Krupic D, Levitan CA, Johannes N, Ouherrou N, Say N, Sinkolova S, Janjic K, Stojanovska M, Stojanovska D, Khosla M, Thomas AG, Kung FYH, Bijlstra G, Mosannenzadeh F, Balci BB, Reips UD, Baskin E, Ishkhanyan B, Czamanski-Cohen J, Dixson BJW, Moreau D, Sutherland CAM, Chuan-Peng H, Noone C, Flowe H, Anne M, Janssen SMJ, Topor M, Majeed NM, Kunisato Y, Yu K, Daches S, Hartanto A, Vdovic M, Anton-Boicuk L, Forbes PAG, Kamburidis J, Marinova E, Nedelcheva-Datsova M, Rachev NR, Stoyanova A, Schmidt K, Suchow JW, Koptjevskaja-Tamm M, Jernsather T, Olofsson JK, Bialobrzeska O, Marszalek M, Tatachari S, Afhami R, Law W, Antfolk J, Zuro B, Van Doren N, Soto JA, Searston R, Miranda J, Damnjanovic K, Yeung SK, Krupic D, Hoyer K, 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Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparing the Effects of Reconstrual and Repurposing Reappraisal Strategies on Sadness and Anxiety in Emerging Adults: A Brief Intervention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07008209
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- E-71395021-050.04-50851
- Conditions
- Emotional Dysregulation, Anxiety, Sadness, Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms, Depressive Symptoms
- Keywords
- emotion regulation, reappraisal, cognitive reappraisal, repurposing, reconstrual, anxiety, sadness, emerging adults
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 233 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ibn Haldun UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Jun 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 goal of this clinical trial is to learn which reappraisal strategy works better to reduce sadness and anxiety in emerging adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
What is the effect of emotion regulation strategies (reconstrual, repurposing) on short term negative emotions (anxiety, sadness)?
Does the effectiveness of these strategies vary depending on the type of emotion (anxiety vs. sadness)?
Are reconstrual and repurposing more effective compared to active and passive control conditions?
What is the effect of these strategies on short-term positive emotions (e.g., hope, happiness)?
Researchers will compare reconstrual and repurposing strategies to see which one is more effective in improving emotional outcomes.
Participants will:
be randomly assigned to one of eight conditions in a 4 (Regulation Strategy: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) × 2 (Emotion Type: Sadness vs. Anxiety) factorial design.
Complete online tasks and surveys about their emotions
Detailed description
This study evaluates the effectiveness of two cognitive reappraisal strategies-reconstrual (reinterpreting the meaning of an event) and repurposing (modifying the personal goal related to the event)-in reducing negative affect and enhancing positive affect in response to emotion-evoking scenarios in emerging adults.
Participants (at least N = 240) will be randomly assigned to one of eight groups in a 2 (Emotion: Sadness vs. Anxiety) × 4 (Strategy: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) between-subjects factorial design. Each participant will complete standardized emotional induction tasks via written scenarios, followed by their assigned intervention.
Hypotheses
H1: Negative emotions (sadness or anxiety) will significantly decrease following the intervention in the reconstrual and repurposing groups compared to the active and passive control groups. (Main effect of strategy on negative affect)
H2: Positive emotions will increase more in the reconstrual and repurposing groups compared to the passive control group. (Main effect of strategy on positive affect)
H3 (Exploratory): The effectiveness of reconstrual and repurposing strategies may vary by emotion type:
Repurposing may be more effective in sadness scenarios.
Reconstrual may be more effective in anxiety scenarios. (Emotion Type × Strategy interaction)
H4: No significant emotional change is expected in the passive control group. (No time effect)
Study Design
Design Type: Experimental, between-subjects factorial design Design Structure: 2 (Emotion Type: Sadness vs. Anxiety) × 4 (Strategy Condition: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) Participants: Minimum N = 240 (n = 30 per group), emerging adults (ages ~18-30) Randomization: Random assignment to 1 of 8 groups Blinding: Participants are blind to condition purpose Type of Analysis: Mixed ANOVA
Within-Subject Factor: Time (Post-Scenario vs. Post-Intervention) Between-Subject Factors: Emotion Type × Strategy Group Dependent Variables: Emotional ratings post-intervention (Negative affect (VAS/SAM: anxiety, sadness); Positive affect (VAS/SAM).
Study Flow
- Initial Assessment Demographics: Only name and age Baseline measures: Scale for contextual reappraisal (SCORE; for trait-level reconstrual and repurposing), GAD-7, PHQ-9
- Neutral Stimulus A standardized neutral video from Samson et al. (2016) study.
- Baseline Emotion Assesments: Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
- Random Group Assignment Participants randomly assigned to one of eight groups (n=30 per group): Sadness - Reconstrual Sadness - Repurposing Sadness - Active Control Sadness - Passive Control Anxiety - Reconstrual Anxiety - Repurposing Anxiety - Active Control Anxiety - Passive Control
- Training Phase Strategy-specific training with a minimum 90-second reading time enforced Practice vignette with 30-second enforced reading and comprehension check Correct answers allow progression; incorrect answers trigger explanation and acknowledgment before continuing Participants rate prior use of the trained strategy in daily life
- Scenario Exposure Participants read and imagine a standardized written scenario (sadness or anxiety) matched for intensity and controllability (based on pilot data)
40-second enforced reading time
- Self-Assessment and Rating VAS and SAM administered
Ratings of scenario imaginability and controllability (0-100 scale)
Participants write their first negative thoughts when imagining the scenario
- Application Phase Participants apply assigned emotion regulation strategy with 90-second minimum enforced duration
Written brief explanation of alternative thoughts used
Post-application ratings with VAS and SAM
Participants rate effectiveness and belief in their reappraisal thoughts (0-100 scale)
- Manipulation Check In the form of two multiple-choice questions: Participants will be asked to select the instruction that best matched the guideline they received at the beginning of the experiment and to identify the general topic of the scenario they had visualized.
- Demographics: Exclusion criteria related questions 11. Debriefing Participants view debriefing statement
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 8
- Model description
- This study uses a 2 (Emotion Type: Sadness vs. Anxiety) × 4 (Strategy Type: Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) between-subjects factorial design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of eight experimental groups. Each participant is exposed to an emotionally evocative scenario (either sadness or anxiety), followed by an intervention based on their assigned strategy condition. The aim is to examine the main and interaction effects of strategy type and emotion type on changes in emotional experience before and after the intervention. Study Type: Interventional Design: Randomized, 2 × 4 between-subject factorial design Factors: Emotion Type (Sadness vs. Anxiety) × Strategy (Reconstrual, Repurposing, Active Control, Passive Control) Within-Subjects: Time (Post-Scenario vs. Post-Intervention) Allocation: Randomized Masking: Single-blind Primary Purpose: Basic Science
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sadness - Reconstrual | Experimental | Behavioral: Reconstrual Strategy TrainingParticipants in this arm are exposed to sadness-related scenario and trained to use the reconstrual strategy, which involves reinterpreting the meaning of the situation to reduce negative emotions. Training is delivered online via Qualtrics and includes practice vignette. After training, participants apply reconstrual to the scenario to regulate their emotional response. |
| Sadness - Repurposing | Experimental | Behavioral: Repurposing Strategy TrainingParticipants view sadness-related scenario and receive training in repurposing, which focuses on changing the goal to alleviate negative feelings. Training and practice exercises are provided online through Qualtrics before applying the strategy to the scenario. |
| Sadness - Active Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: Active ControlParticipants are presented with sadness-related scenario followed by a writing distraction task designed to divert attention from negative emotions. This arm controls for the effect of engaging in an active cognitive task unrelated to emotion regulation. |
| Sadness - Passive Control | No intervention | –Participants view sadness-related scenario but do not receive any emotion regulation training or distraction tasks. This arm serves as a baseline to measure natural emotional change over time. |
| Anxiety - Reconstrual | Experimental | Behavioral: Reconstrual Strategy TrainingParticipants are trained in reconstrual to reinterpret and reduce the perceived threat or negative appraisal of the situation and exposed to anxiety-inducing scenario. The online training includes practice vignette, followed by application of the strategy to the scenario. |
| Anxiety - Repurposing | Experimental | Behavioral: Repurposing Strategy TrainingParticipants view anxiety-related scenarios and receive training in repurposing, which focuses on changing the goal to alleviate negative feelings. Training and practice exercises are provided online through Qualtrics before applying the strategy to the scenario. |
| Anxiety - Active Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: Active ControlParticipants are presented with anxiety-related scenario followed by a writing distraction task designed to divert attention from negative emotions. This arm controls for the effect of engaging in an active cognitive task unrelated to emotion regulation. |
| Anxiety - Passive Control | No intervention | –Participants view anxiety-related scenario but do not receive any emotion regulation training or distraction tasks. This arm serves as a baseline to measure natural emotional change over time. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Aged 18-30 years
- Fluent in Turkish
- No current psychiatric treatment or diagnosis (self-reported)
- Willingness to participate and provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- History of severe psychiatric or neurological disorders
- Current substance use disorder
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Reconstrual Strategy TrainingParticipants receive training in the reconstrual strategy, which involves recognizing and reinterpreting initial negative appraisals of emotionally challenging situations. The training guides participants to: Identify the situation and their initial negative interpretation. Generate alternative, balanced explanations that reduce negative emotional impact. The goal is to help participants view events from a different, realistic perspective to decrease negative emotions by modifying how they interpret situations. | Behavioural | Anxiety - Reconstrual, Sadness - Reconstrual |
| Repurposing Strategy TrainingParticipants receive training in the repurposing strategy, which involves adjusting or replacing personal goals to better align with the current situation. The training guides participants to: Identify the situation and the original goal that was not met. Develop alternative, realistic goals or modify existing ones to reduce the emotional impact of unmet expectations. This approach helps participants manage negative emotions by creating meaningful, adaptable goals that fit the reality of the situation. | Behavioural | Anxiety - Repurposing, Sadness - Repurposing |
| Active ControlParticipants are asked to carefully copy a neutral descriptive passage without making any changes, focusing solely on transcription accuracy. This task serves as an active control by engaging participants in a cognitive task that requires attention and effort, but does not involve emotion regulation strategies. The task controls for the effects of engagement and time spent on a task without influencing participants' emotional processing. | Behavioural | Anxiety - Active Control, Sadness - Active Control |
Primary outcome
Change in Negative Affect
Time frame: Immediately after vignette exposure vs. immediately after intervention
(VAS; scale 0-100) Participants rate how intensely they feel a target negative emotion (sadness or anxiety) using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 0 ("Not at all") to 100 ("Extremely"). Assessment Points: Time 1: After reading the emotionally evocative vignette (baseline). Time 2: After completing the assigned emotion regulation strategy (post-intervention)
Change in valence and arousal
Time frame: Immediately after vignette exposure vs. immediately after intervention
Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) ratings [Time Frame: Before vs. after intervention] A nonverbal pictorial measure of emotional response that assesses two dimensions: Valence (pleasant-unpleasant) Arousal (high-low) on a 1-9 scale
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Positive Affect
Time frame: Immediately after vignette exposure vs. immediately after intervention
PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire)
Time frame: Baseline
GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale)
Time frame: Baseline
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 27 Mar 2026.
- Background: PubMed 25929696Samson AC, Kreibig SD, Soderstrom B, Wade AA, Gross JJ. Eliciting positive, negative and mixed emotional states: A film library for affective scientists. Cogn Emot. 2016 Aug;30(5):827-56. doi: 10.1080/02699931.2015.1031089. Epub 2015 May 1.
- Background: PubMed 38900559Kam JWY, Wan-Sai-Cheong L, Zuk AAO, Mehta A, Dixon ML, Gross JJ. A brief reappraisal intervention leads to durable affective benefits. Emotion. 2024 Oct;24(7):1676-1688. doi: 10.1037/emo0001391. Epub 2024 Jun 20.
- Background: PubMed 36745065Uusberg A, Yih J, Taxer JL, Christ NM, Toms T, Uusberg H, Gross JJ. Appraisal shifts during reappraisal. Emotion. 2023 Oct;23(7):1985-2001. doi: 10.1037/emo0001202. Epub 2023 Feb 6.
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- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. De-identified individual participant data will be shared upon reasonable request after publication, following approval from the ethics committee and under a data use agreement.
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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.
Ayşe ALTAN-ATALAY, Assoc. Prof. Dr principal investigator
Kadir Has University
Burcu UYSAL, Assoc. Prof. Dr principal investigator
Ibn Haldun University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Reconstrual Strategy Training and Repurposing Strategy Training in people with Emotional Dysregulation and Anxiety, run by Ibn Haldun University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 4 inclusion and 2 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 27 Mar 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
Change in Negative Affect (time frame: Immediately after vignette exposure vs. immediately after intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07008209, which also lists 6 linked publications.
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 27 Mar 2026.