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Emotion Focused TherapyNCT07432139

Brief Emotion-Focused Therapy for Self-Criticism: A Comparison With a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach

A study testing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy in people with Emotion Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, run by Catarina Teixeira at 1 site in Portugal.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an effective approach in reducing self-criticism in adults. EFT will be compared with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a well-established treatment shown to be effective for a wide range of mental health difficulties. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
95 participants
Where
1 sitePortugal
Study dates
17 Apr 2025to 7 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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • age over 18 years old
  • Portuguese native speakers
  • elevated self-critical processes
  • perceived impact of the self-critical process on their daily functionality,
  • availability to work with self-critical processes.

Who cannot join

  • Since self-criticism is a transdiagnostic criteria for various mental disorders, the existence of a specific diagnosis is not in itself an exclusion criterion. However, participants will be excluded in case of
  • elevated dysfunctionality
  • high risk factors (such as suicide risk)
  • severe psychopathology, such as bipolar personality disorder, panic disorder, substance abuse, and personality disorders non adequate to a brief intervention previously identified.
  • changes in the therapeutic plan with psychotropic medication in the last month, if currently taking psychotropic medication
  • psychological treatment maintenance during the study implementation.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Portugal1 site
  • University of Maia

    Maia, 4475-690

Other trials in Portugal

About this study

Official title: Efficacy of a Short-Term Emotion-Focused Therapy Intervention for Self-Criticism Compared With a Cognitive-Behavioral Gold Standard: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an effective approach in reducing self-criticism in adults. EFT will be compared with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a well-established treatment shown to be effective for a wide range of mental health difficulties.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

Read more
  1. Does EFT reduce self-criticism as effectively as CBT?
  2. How do EFT and CBT compare in their impact on other mental health symptoms?

Participants will:

  1. Receive a six-session, weekly online individual intervention (EFT or CBT), focused on reducing self-criticism.
  2. Complete regular questionnaires during the intervention and at follow-up periods to track changes in self-criticism and other mental health symptoms.
Being tested
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy
Keywords
Self-Criticism, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brief Intervention, Randomized Controlled Trial, Comparison

What participants receive

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

  • Cognitive Behavioral TherapyBehavioural

    Six weekly online individual sessions using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with cognitive restructuring. The intervention helps participants identify maladaptive self-critical thoughts, examine underlying beliefs, and access more adaptive and constructive thought patterns. Techniques include thought monitoring, identification of cognitive biases, the downward arrow method to explore assumptions and core beliefs, Socratic dialogue, and various techniques to challenge maladaptive thoughts and beliefs and access more adaptive ones. The intervention aims to reduce self-criticism and related clinical symptoms and to improve psychological well-being. This arm serves as an active comparator to the Emotion-Focused Therapy intervention.

  • Emotion Focused TherapyBehavioural

    Six weekly online individual sessions using Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), with a specific focus on the two-chair dialogue. The intervention addresses self-criticism as a marker of dysfunctional emotional processing, helping participants access and differentiate between the self-critical voice and the more vulnerable, experiencer self. Participants are guided to access and transform maladaptive emotional responses associated with self-criticism and integrate previously conflicting parts of the self. The intervention aims to soften maladaptive self-criticism, enhance emotional awareness, and promote overall well-being.

Study groups in NCT07432139
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Emotion Focused TherapyExperimentalParticipants in this arm will receive a six-session, weekly, online individual Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) intervention targeting self-criticism. The core of the intervention is the two-chair dialogue, which helps participants identify and process self-critical thoughts and emotions, promote emotional transformation, and integrate different aspects of the self.
Receives: Behavioral: Emotion Focused Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral TherapyActive comparatorParticipants in this arm will receive a six-session, weekly, online individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention, focused on cognitive restructuring of self-critical thoughts. CBT is a well-established, gold-standard treatment for a broad range of mental health difficulties, and serves as an active comparator to evaluate the efficacy of the EFT intervention. The intervention helps participants identify maladaptive self-criticism, challenging underlying beliefs, and develop more adaptive thought patterns.
Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What is being measured

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

  1. Level of Self-Criticism

    Measured using the Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS).

    The FSCRS provides separate scores for Inadequate Self, Hated Self, and Reassured Self. Scores range from 0 to 4, where higher scores indicate greater levels of the respective self-critical or self-reassuring tendencies.

    Reduction in the Inadequate Self and Hated Self subscales indicates improvement in self-criticism, while increases in Reassured Self indicate improvement in self-compassion.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T2-T6) Pre-session assessment : Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before sessions 2-6). T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6. T8-T9) Follow-ups: 1 and 3 months after T7.

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Global Symptomatology

    Measured using the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation-10 (CORE-10), a Measure of Global Symptomatology.

    The CORE-10 is a brief, self-report measure of general psychological distress experienced over the past week. It consists of 10 items assessing symptoms such as of anxiety, depression, daily functioning, and risk to self.

    Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 4 = most or all of the time). Item scores are summed to yield a single total score ranging from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater psychological distress and symptom severity.

    No subscale scores are calculated. The CORE-10 is widely used in clinical and research settings to monitor treatment outcomes and change over time.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1 T2-T6) Pre-session assessment: Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before sessions 2-6) T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after finalizing Session 6 T8-T9) Follow-ups: 1 and 3 months after T7

  2. Mental Health Continuum - Short Form (MHC-SF):

    The MHC-SF is a 14-item self-report measure of global mental health and wellbeing, assessing emotional, social, and psychological well-being over the last week. Items are rated on a 6-point Likert scale reflecting the frequency of specific feelings or experiences (0 = never to 5 = every day). Item scores are summed to produce a total score ranging from 0 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater overall well-being. The MHC-SF provides a global index of positive mental health and is widely used in clinical and research settings to assess well-being and monitor mental health changes over time.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T6) Within 24 hours before Session 6. T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after finalizing Session 6. T8-T9) Follow-up assessments: 1 and 3 months after T7.

  3. Depressive symptomatology

    Measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is a self-report measure designed to assess the presence and severity of depressive symptoms over the past week. It consists of 9 items that correspond to the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, including mood, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and suicidal thoughts. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day). Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. The PHQ-9 is widely used in both clinical practice and research for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring treatment outcomes.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1 T2-T6) Pre-session: Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before Sessions 2-6) T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6 is finalized T8-T9) Follow-up assessments: 1 and 3 months after T7

  4. Anxiety Symptomatology

    Measured using the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7-item scale):

    GAD-7 is a brief self-report measure used to assess the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms over the past week. It consists of 7 items evaluating common anxiety-related experiences, including nervousness, uncontrollable worry, restlessness, irritability, and difficulty relaxing. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day). Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety. The GAD-7 is widely used in clinical and research settings for screening, assessing symptom severity, and monitoring treatment outcomes.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T2-T6) Pre-session: Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before Sessions 2-6). T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6 is finalized. T8-T9) Follow-up: 1 and 3 months after T7.

  5. Self-Esteem

    Measured using: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The RSES is a widely used 10-item self-report measure assessing global self-esteem and an individual's overall sense of self-worth and self-acceptance. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = strongly disagree to 3 = strongly agree). Item scores are summed to produce a total score ranging from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater self-esteem. The RSES is commonly used in both research and clinical settings to evaluate self-esteem levels and monitor changes over time.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T2-T6) Pre-session assessment : Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before sessions 2-6). T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6. T8-T9) Follow-ups: 1 and 3 months after T7.

  6. Affect

    Measured using Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The PANAS is a 20-item self-report measure designed to assess two primary dimensions of affect: positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Each dimension consists of 10 items describing specific feelings and emotions, such as enthusiasm, alertness, distress, or nervousness. Respondents rate the extent to which they have experienced each feeling over the last week on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very slightly or not at all to 5 = extremely). Scores for each subscale range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating stronger positive or negative affect. The PANAS is widely used in clinical and research settings to assess mood, emotional states, and changes in affect over time.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T2-T6) Pre-session assessment : Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before sessions 2-6). T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6. T8-T9) Follow-ups: 1 and 3 months after T7.

  7. Self-compassion

    Measured using: Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). The SCS is a 26-item self-report measure assessing an individual's tendency to be kind and understanding toward oneself in times of difficulty or failure. Items cover six components of self-compassion: self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = almost never to 5 = almost always). Higher total scores indicate greater levels of self-compassion. The SCS is widely used in research and clinical settings to evaluate self-compassion, emotional resilience, and related psychological outcomes.

    Measured: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T2-T6) Pre-session assessment : Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before sessions 2-6). T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6. T8-T9) Follow-ups: 1 and 3 months after T7.

  8. Working alliance

    Measured using: Working Alliance Inventory - Short Revised (WAI-SR).

    The WAI-SR is a 12-item self-report measure assessing the quality of the therapeutic alliance between a client and therapist. It evaluates three key dimensions: agreement on goals, agreement on tasks, and the development of a personal bond.

    Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = rarely or never to 7 = always), with total scores ranging from 12 to 84. Higher scores indicate a stronger perceived therapeutic alliance.

    In this study, the WAI-SR is assessed only before Session 5 to capture the early formation of the client-therapist relationship. Measuring at Session 5 provides a balance, reflecting a stabilized alliance while minimizing bias from treatment completion.

    Measured: T5) Only administered within 24 hours prior to Session 5.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted25 Feb 2026
  2. Study start17 Apr 2025
  3. Primary completion7 Jan 2026
  4. Study completion7 Jan 2026

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
Model description
This is a randomized, parallel-group clinical trial comparing two brief online interventions (Emotion-Focused Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) for reducing self-criticism and clinical symptoms. Participants are randomly assigned to one of the two interventions. Therapists are blind to participants' questionnaire results during the study.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
95 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07432139
Sponsor's protocol ID
214/2024
Other IDs
2024.02378.BD
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
10 Feb 2026
Last updated
25 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data from this study will not be shared publicly due to the sensitive nature of the psychological measures collected and to ensure participant confidentiality.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy in people with Emotion Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, run by Catarina Teixeira at 1 site in Portugal.

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 5 inclusion and 6 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 25 Feb 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 Portugal. 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?

Level of Self-Criticism (time frame: T1) Baseline: Within 24 hours prior to Session 1. T2-T6) Pre-session assessment : Within 24 hours before each weekly session (i.e., before sessions 2-6). T7) Post-intervention: 1 week after Session 6. T8-T9) Follow-ups: 1 and 3 months after T7.). 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 25 Feb 2026.

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