Text Message Safety Behavior Fading for Pathological Worry
Purpose
The current study aims to explore the efficacy of a text message-based Safety Behavior Fading Intervention compared to a PMR control condition.
Conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Worrying
- Anxiety
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Between 18 Years and 65 Years
- Eligible Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- Elevated worry as defined by a score of 60 or higher on the PSWQ.
Exclusion Criteria
- Score of 59 or lower on the PSWQ - If applicable, unstable psychiatric medication usage any time over the past 4 weeks - Failing attention checks in baseline data collection - Pregnancy
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Intervention Model Description
- Participants are randomized to one of two conditions
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Safety Behavior Fading |
Individuals randomly assigned to the safety behavior fading condition will receive instructions to decrease or eliminate their endorsed worry behaviors. In addition, they will receive daily reminders via text message to decrease these behaviors, along with a worry behavior monitoring checklist in which the participant indicates the extent to which they decreased and/or eliminated each safety behavior over the previous day. Participants will also be able to track their progress using daily progress charts that show how their daily total safety behavior use changes throughout treatment. |
|
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Active Comparator Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) |
Individuals randomly assigned to the PMR condition will receive a total of 4 videos over the course of a month (1 video per week, 15 minutes each) wherein participants will be invited to systematically tense and release different muscle groups in the body in order to build awareness of tension and relaxation. |
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Recruiting Locations
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Florida State University
Detailed Description
Safety behavior fading intervention procedures will follow methodology previously used in the Cougle Lab. The safety behavior fading intervention is designed to target a decrease or elimination of worry-related safety behaviors. Individuals randomly assigned to the safety behavior fading condition will receive instructions to decrease or eliminate their endorsed worry behaviors. In addition, they will receive daily reminders via text message to decrease these behaviors, along with a worry behavior monitoring checklist in which the participant indicates the extent to which they decreased and/or eliminated each safety behavior over the previous day. Participants will also be able to track their progress using daily progress charts that show how their daily total safety behavior use changes throughout treatment. Text messaging will be managed by EZTexting - a service that manages mass texting protocols. The daily reminder will include the following language: "Hi! This is a friendly reminder to avoid using your checklist behaviors. Please tap the link below to access today's checklist: [link to checklist]." Individuals randomly assigned to the PMR condition will receive a total of 4 videos over the course of a month (1 video per week, 15 minutes each) wherein participants will be invited to systematically tense and release different muscle groups in the body in order to build awareness of tension and relaxation.
