This study is an open trial designed specifically to address the need for evidence-based treatment delivered via telehealth to individuals that are currently struggling with mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the overarching goal of helping residents of New York adversely impacted by the pandemic to effectively manage their anxiety, stress, and depression during this unprecedented time in human history.
The present study is evaluating whether this ERT treatment program delivered via telehealth
demonstrates efficacy in: 1) reducing symptoms of psychological distress (e.g., anxiety,
depression, worry, rumination); 2) improving outcomes specific to the ERT mechanism-based
model (e.g., attentional control, decentering, reappraisal); 3) improving quality of life and
functioning, for adults aged 18-65 years old.
Behavioral: Emotion Regulation Training via Telehealth
The initial stage of treatment focuses on psychoeducation about anxiety/depression, the impact that these cognitions/behaviors/emotions have on recent situations, and self-monitoring of worry/anxiety/depression. The sessions focus on the development of skills that help understand and regulate one's emotional experience (i.e., recognizing emotions when they are happening, identifying the meaning of a given emotion experience, soothing oneself in the context of negative emotional experiences). Following the development of these skills, sessions focus on the application of somatic awareness and emotion regulation skills while imagining emotionally evocative themes. The remaining session focuses on terminating therapy, relapse prevention, and future goals. An Internet-based online platform will be used to promote engagement with and increase accessibility to between-session skills practice and treatment-related activities (e.g., self-monitoring, session summaries, worksheets).
Other Name: Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT)
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 18-65 years during the time of participation
- Endorses distress and worry/rumination exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Access to a mobile device (e.g., smartphone, personal computer, laptop, tablet)
connected to the Internet
Exclusion Criteria:
- Active suicidal intent
- Current substance dependence disorder (within the past year)
- Current or past psychotic disorder, Bipolar-I disorder, or dementia
- Primary DSM-5 diagnosis of borderline or narcissistic personality disorder
- Currently receiving any other form of psychosocial treatment
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, New York, United States
Douglas S Mennin, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Teachers College, Columbia University