RuminationNCT07650617
The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Rumination and Cognitive Avoidance in Teachers
A study testing Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training in people with Rumination and Cognitive Avoidance, run by Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj at 1 site in Iran.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training in reducing rumination and cognitive avoidance among middle-school teachers in Isfahan, Iran. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 to 52 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Rumination, Cognitive Avoidance
- What is being tested?
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 34 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIran
- Study dates
- 15 Sep 2024to 18 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 35 to 52 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female middle-school teachers from districts 4 and 5 of Isfahan, Iran.
- Age between 35 and 52 years.
- Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent.
- Ability to attend the intervention sessions and complete study assessments.
Who cannot join
- Absence from more than two intervention sessions.
- Withdrawal of consent at any stage of the study.
- Failure to complete post-intervention or follow-up assessments.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Iran1 site
Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Mobarakeh Branch
Isfahan, Isfahan, 8481914411
About this study
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training in reducing rumination and cognitive avoidance among middle-school teachers in Isfahan, Iran. Teachers often experience occupational stress that may contribute to maladaptive cognitive and emotional responses. DBT is a skills-based psychological intervention that aims to improve emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Thirty-four eligible teachers were randomly assigned to either a DBT intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group attended ten group sessions, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Levels of rumination and cognitive avoidance were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up using standardized questionnaires.
The study aimed to determine whether DBT skills training could reduce maladaptive cognitive processes and promote psychological well-being among teachers.
Read the detailed description
Teachers are exposed to chronic occupational stress that may contribute to maladaptive cognitive processes, including rumination and cognitive avoidance. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), originally developed for emotion dysregulation, has increasingly been applied as a transdiagnostic and skills-based intervention in non-clinical populations. DBT emphasizes mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills that may enhance adaptive coping and psychological resilience.
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of a DBT skills training program among middle-school teachers in Isfahan, Iran. Participants assigned to the intervention group attended ten structured group sessions delivered in a face-to-face format. The program was based on Linehan's DBT skills training model and focused on developing practical strategies for emotional and cognitive self-regulation. Participants in the control group did not receive the intervention during the study period.
The study was designed to evaluate whether a structured DBT-based psychoeducational program could improve cognitive and emotional functioning and contribute to the growing evidence supporting the use of DBT in educational and non-clinical settings.
- Conditions
- Rumination, Cognitive Avoidance
- Being tested
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training
- Keywords
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Teachers, Rumination, Cognitive Avoidance, Emotion Regulation, Mindfulness, Psychological Resilience, Psychoeducational Intervention, Group Skills Training, Occupational Stress, Middle-School Teachers, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Medical subject headings
- Rumination Syndrome, Emotional Regulation, Occupational Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills TrainingBehavioural
Participants assigned to the experimental group received a manualized Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training program delivered in a face-to-face group format. The intervention consisted of ten sessions conducted over a five-week period. The program was based on Linehan's DBT model and included training in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Sessions involved psychoeducation, group discussion, and practical exercises designed to improve cognitive and emotional self-regulation. Participants in the control group received no intervention during the study period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training | Experimental | Participants received ten face-to-face group sessions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training. The intervention included mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. Receives: Behavioral: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training |
| No-Intervention Control | No intervention | Participants assigned to the control group received no intervention during the study period and completed assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Cognitive Avoidance
Change in cognitive avoidance scores measured using the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire. Total scores range from 25 to 125, with higher scores indicating greater cognitive avoidance and worse outcomes.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (5 weeks), and 2-month follow-up.
Rumination
Change in rumination scores measured using the Ruminative Response Scale. Total scores range from 22 to 88, with higher scores indicating greater rumination and worse outcomes.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (5 weeks), and 2-month follow-up.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jun 2026
- Study start15 Sep 2024
- Primary completion15 Sep 2024
- Study completion18 Dec 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for RuminationStudies 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups. The intervention group received ten sessions of group-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training, whereas the control group received no intervention during the study period. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Sepideh Navidmanesh, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj
- Investigators
- Maryam Kadkhodaee, PhD of Psychology, Study chair, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Mo. C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07650617
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- I/05/117
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after de-identification, will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Supporting documents, including the study protocol and data dictionary, will also be available. Data will be available beginning six months after publication and ending five years after publication. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author. Access will be granted following review of the proposed use of the data and execution of a data access agreement.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Rumination and Cognitive Avoidance in Teachers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07650617
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- I/05/117
- Conditions
- Rumination, Cognitive Avoidance
- Keywords
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Teachers, Rumination, Cognitive Avoidance, Emotion Regulation, Mindfulness, Psychological Resilience, Psychoeducational Intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Islamic Azad University, SanandajUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Dec 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Jun 2026 (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.
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training in reducing rumination and cognitive avoidance among middle-school teachers in Isfahan, Iran. Teachers often experience occupational stress that may contribute to maladaptive cognitive and emotional responses. DBT is a skills-based psychological intervention that aims to improve emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Thirty-four eligible teachers were randomly assigned to either a DBT intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group attended ten group sessions, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Levels of rumination and cognitive avoidance were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up using standardized questionnaires.
The study aimed to determine whether DBT skills training could reduce maladaptive cognitive processes and promote psychological well-being among teachers.
Detailed description
Teachers are exposed to chronic occupational stress that may contribute to maladaptive cognitive processes, including rumination and cognitive avoidance. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), originally developed for emotion dysregulation, has increasingly been applied as a transdiagnostic and skills-based intervention in non-clinical populations. DBT emphasizes mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills that may enhance adaptive coping and psychological resilience.
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of a DBT skills training program among middle-school teachers in Isfahan, Iran. Participants assigned to the intervention group attended ten structured group sessions delivered in a face-to-face format. The program was based on Linehan's DBT skills training model and focused on developing practical strategies for emotional and cognitive self-regulation. Participants in the control group did not receive the intervention during the study period.
The study was designed to evaluate whether a structured DBT-based psychoeducational program could improve cognitive and emotional functioning and contribute to the growing evidence supporting the use of DBT in educational and non-clinical settings.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups. The intervention group received ten sessions of group-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training, whereas the control group received no intervention during the study period. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training | Experimental | Behavioral: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills TrainingParticipants received ten face-to-face group sessions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training. The intervention included mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. |
| No-Intervention Control | No intervention | –Participants assigned to the control group received no intervention during the study period and completed assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 35 to 52 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Female middle-school teachers from districts 4 and 5 of Isfahan, Iran.
- Age between 35 and 52 years.
- Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent.
- Ability to attend the intervention sessions and complete study assessments.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Absence from more than two intervention sessions.
- Withdrawal of consent at any stage of the study.
- Failure to complete post-intervention or follow-up assessments.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills TrainingParticipants assigned to the experimental group received a manualized Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training program delivered in a face-to-face group format. The intervention consisted of ten sessions conducted over a five-week period. The program was based on Linehan's DBT model and included training in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Sessions involved psychoeducation, group discussion, and practical exercises designed to improve cognitive and emotional self-regulation. Participants in the control group received no intervention during the study period. | Behavioural | Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training |
Primary outcome
Cognitive Avoidance
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (5 weeks), and 2-month follow-up.
Change in cognitive avoidance scores measured using the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire. Total scores range from 25 to 125, with higher scores indicating greater cognitive avoidance and worse outcomes.
Rumination
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (5 weeks), and 2-month follow-up.
Change in rumination scores measured using the Ruminative Response Scale. Total scores range from 22 to 88, with higher scores indicating greater rumination and worse outcomes.
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 16 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after de-identification, will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Supporting documents, including the study protocol and data dictionary, will also be available. Data will be available beginning six months after publication and ending five years after publication. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author. Access will be granted following review of the proposed use of the data and execution of a data access 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.
Maryam Kadkhodaee, PhD of Psychology study chair
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Mo. C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training in people with Rumination and Cognitive Avoidance, run by Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj at 1 site in Iran.
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 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jun 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 Iran. 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?
Cognitive Avoidance (time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (5 weeks), and 2-month follow-up.). 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?
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 16 Jun 2026.