Emotional DistressNCT07809737
The Dynamic Mechanism of Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) Based on Ecological Moment Measurement
A study testing Mindfulness Intervention for emotional distress(MIED） in people with Emotional Distress and Depression, run by Peking University.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine how a mindfulness-based intervention (MIED) affects the moment-to-moment, lagged relationships between mechanism variables at the levels of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and outcomes (anxiety and depression) in individuals experiencing anxiety and depressive distress… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Emotional Distress, Depression, Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness Intervention for emotional distress(MIED）
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 5 Sep 2026to 22 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Subjects with scores greater than 21 on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.
Who cannot join
- Subjects who could not access the Internet.
- Subjects with insufficient Chinese ability.
- Subjects who have participated in mindfulness-based projects for more than 6 weeks before, and / or the current frequency of meditation practice is more than once a week.
- Patients with schizophrenia or psychotic affective disorder, current organic mental disorder, substance abuse disorder and generalized developmental disorder.
- Subjects at risk of suicide.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine how a mindfulness-based intervention (MIED) affects the moment-to-moment, lagged relationships between mechanism variables at the levels of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and outcomes (anxiety and depression) in individuals experiencing anxiety and depressive distress, using high-frequency ecological momentary assessment. The main questions it aims to answer are:
At the within-person level, do these mechanism variables significantly predict next-moment anxiety and depressive symptoms at the within-day micro-scale?
How does the temporal dynamic between mechanism and outcomes over the course of MIED?
- Conditions
- Emotional Distress, Depression, Anxiety
- Being tested
- Mindfulness Intervention for emotional distress(MIED）
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness Intervention for emotional distress(MIED）Behavioural
A 49-day digital self-help program delivered via a WeChat Mini Program (or mobile app). Each day, participants receive a new set of materials: (a) a guided mindfulness meditation audio (10-30 minutes), (b) psychoeducational content in text or audio format covering mindfulness principles, emotion, and emotional distress, and (c) daily assignments (such as informal mindfulness practices, emotion journaling, and graded challenging tasks).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MIED Self-help Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants receive a 49-day self-help intervention delivered via a Mini Program. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness Intervention for emotional distress(MIED） |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
changes of depression
Daily Depression Severity and Impairment Scale,5 items, scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression.
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of anxiety
Daily Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale,5 items, scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of mindfulness
The Daily Mindfulness Response Scale measures the frequency with which one returns to a nonjudgmental and unconditionally receptive present moment awareness during the day. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 1 (rarely) to 10 (often). scores range from 4 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of mindful responding
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of distress tolerance
3 items were chosen to form the Daily Distress Tolerance Scale (DDTS). The DDTS consists of four items. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree). Scores range from 3 to 15, with higher scores indicating greater distress tolerance.
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of engaging in life
4 items were chosen from Enaging in Life Scale which assesses the extent to which individuals' daily engagement in life domains (such as work, social interactions, and leisure activities) is affected by physical and psychological discomfort, scores range from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher levels of engaging in everyday life (Chen et al.,2026).
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of physical distress intolerance
Momentary bodily discomfort tolerance will be assessed using a single self-developed item: "Right now, I am able to allow unpleasant bodily sensations to be present without trying to get rid of them immediately." Participants will respond on a 7-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all able") to 6 ("completely able"). Higher scores indicate greater momentary ability to tolerate and allow unpleasant bodily sensations without immediately attempting to avoid or eliminate them.
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of experiential avoidance
Based on a preliminary study, the items with the high factor loading （at least higher than 0.6） from each subscale of the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire ( Gámez et al, 2013) were chosen to form the Daily Experiential Avoidance Scale (DEAS). The DEAS consists of four items. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 6 (strongly disagree). Scores range from 5 to 30, with higher scores indicating less experiential avoidance.
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of rumination
State rumination will be assessed using a single-item visual analogue scale adapted from prior research. Participants will rate the extent to which they are currently caught up in their emotions and problems and find it difficult to step back from them ("Right now, I am caught up in my emotions and problems and find it difficult to distance myself from them") on a slider ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 100 ("extremely"). Higher scores indicate greater momentary rumination.
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
changes of negative emotion
Negative affect will be assessed using four items adapted from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Participants will rate the intensity of their current feelings of anxiety, sadness, irritability, and tension ("Right now, I feel anxious/sad/irritable/tense") using a visual analogue slider ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 100 ("extremely"). Higher scores indicate greater momentary negative affect.
Measured: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-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 posted9 Sep 2026
- Study start5 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion22 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Emotional DistressStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Peking UniversityThe 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Peking University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Xinghua Liu, Peking University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07809737
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E20260827
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 9 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Dynamic Mechanism of Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) Based on Ecological Moment Measurement
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07809737
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- E20260827
- Conditions
- Emotional Distress, Depression, Anxiety
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Peking UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 22 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Sep 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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine how a mindfulness-based intervention (MIED) affects the moment-to-moment, lagged relationships between mechanism variables at the levels of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and outcomes (anxiety and depression) in individuals experiencing anxiety and depressive distress, using high-frequency ecological momentary assessment. The main questions it aims to answer are:
At the within-person level, do these mechanism variables significantly predict next-moment anxiety and depressive symptoms at the within-day micro-scale?
How does the temporal dynamic between mechanism and outcomes over the course of MIED?
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MIED Self-help Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness Intervention for emotional distress(MIED）Participants receive a 49-day self-help intervention delivered via a Mini Program. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Subjects with scores greater than 21 on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Subjects who could not access the Internet.
- Subjects with insufficient Chinese ability.
- Subjects who have participated in mindfulness-based projects for more than 6 weeks before, and / or the current frequency of meditation practice is more than once a week.
- Patients with schizophrenia or psychotic affective disorder, current organic mental disorder, substance abuse disorder and generalized developmental disorder.
- Subjects at risk of suicide.
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 Intervention for emotional distress(MIED）A 49-day digital self-help program delivered via a WeChat Mini Program (or mobile app). Each day, participants receive a new set of materials: (a) a guided mindfulness meditation audio (10-30 minutes), (b) psychoeducational content in text or audio format covering mindfulness principles, emotion, and emotional distress, and (c) daily assignments (such as informal mindfulness practices, emotion journaling, and graded challenging tasks). | Behavioural | MIED Self-help Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
changes of depression
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Daily Depression Severity and Impairment Scale,5 items, scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression.
changes of anxiety
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Daily Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale,5 items, scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
changes of mindfulness
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
The Daily Mindfulness Response Scale measures the frequency with which one returns to a nonjudgmental and unconditionally receptive present moment awareness during the day. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 1 (rarely) to 10 (often). scores range from 4 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of mindful responding
changes of distress tolerance
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
3 items were chosen to form the Daily Distress Tolerance Scale (DDTS). The DDTS consists of four items. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree). Scores range from 3 to 15, with higher scores indicating greater distress tolerance.
changes of engaging in life
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
4 items were chosen from Enaging in Life Scale which assesses the extent to which individuals' daily engagement in life domains (such as work, social interactions, and leisure activities) is affected by physical and psychological discomfort, scores range from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher levels of engaging in everyday life (Chen et al.,2026).
changes of physical distress intolerance
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Momentary bodily discomfort tolerance will be assessed using a single self-developed item: "Right now, I am able to allow unpleasant bodily sensations to be present without trying to get rid of them immediately." Participants will respond on a 7-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all able") to 6 ("completely able"). Higher scores indicate greater momentary ability to tolerate and allow unpleasant bodily sensations without immediately attempting to avoid or eliminate them.
changes of experiential avoidance
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Based on a preliminary study, the items with the high factor loading （at least higher than 0.6） from each subscale of the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire ( Gámez et al, 2013) were chosen to form the Daily Experiential Avoidance Scale (DEAS). The DEAS consists of four items. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 6 (strongly disagree). Scores range from 5 to 30, with higher scores indicating less experiential avoidance.
changes of rumination
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
State rumination will be assessed using a single-item visual analogue scale adapted from prior research. Participants will rate the extent to which they are currently caught up in their emotions and problems and find it difficult to step back from them ("Right now, I am caught up in my emotions and problems and find it difficult to distance myself from them") on a slider ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 100 ("extremely"). Higher scores indicate greater momentary rumination.
changes of negative emotion
Time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Negative affect will be assessed using four items adapted from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Participants will rate the intensity of their current feelings of anxiety, sadness, irritability, and tension ("Right now, I feel anxious/sad/irritable/tense") using a visual analogue slider ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 100 ("extremely"). Higher scores indicate greater momentary negative affect.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindfulness Intervention for emotional distress(MIED） in people with Emotional Distress and Depression, run by Peking University.
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 1 inclusion and 5 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact MO CHEN (86 +18950308693, amor_chen@foxmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
changes of depression (time frame: At baseline (within 1 week pre-intervention), at Week 1, Week 4, Week 7 of intervention, within 1 week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up). The study lists 9 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 9 Sep 2026.