Department Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Projects

Randomised controlled study on the effectiveness of an internet-based intervention for eating disorders


(Funding: Selfapy - Online therapy, duration: 2020-2022)

The study evaluates the effectiveness of internet-based self-help programmes for people with bulimia and binge-eating disorder. The programmes are based on evidence-based methods and exercises from cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders. In a blinded, randomised controlled waiting list study, the effects of the interventions on symptom progression, quality of life and emotional regulation are investigated. Included participants either receive immediate access to the internet-based self-help programmes (intervention group) or delayed after a period of 12 weeks (waiting list control group). Primary and secondary outcome measures are collected before the intervention and after six and twelve weeks. Before and after the intervention, eating behaviour and emotional regulation in everyday life are also measured using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA).

Contact persons: Steffen Hartmann , Christina Timm and Luise Prüßner

Contact: selfapy-ES@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de

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Winter is Coming: Deciphering the Precursors of Depressive Symptoms Using its Naturally Occurring Fluctuations During the Seasons


(Funding: FRONTIER - DFG Excellence Initiative, 5.2. ZUK 49/Ü 5.2.179, duration: 2017-2019)

For the Frontier application (Miano, Schulze, Barnow), research funding of €84,182 has been approved for 2017. In this longitudinal study, emotion regulation, cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were assessed at 6 different points in time over the course of a year - from summer 2018 to winter 2019 to summer 2019. The participants (N > 110) filled in online questionnaires, among others on depressive symptoms and their emotional regulation ability. The emotions experienced and the emotion regulation strategies used were surveyed using the smartphone app EmoTrack in everyday life (Ecological Momentary Assessment). The participants also underwent online tasks on cognitive control (inhibition and working memory updating). The aim of this longitudinal study is to improve our understanding of the causal relationships between emotional regulation, cognitive functions and depressive symptoms, which have hardly been investigated to date.

Contact persons: Ana-Maria Strakosch , Annemarie Miano and Katrin Schulze

Contact: winteriscoming@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de

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Study on how to deal with feelings after completion of outpatient psychotherapy for depression


The aim of this study is to investigate how mental health and the management of emotions develop after completion of outpatient psychotherapy for the treatment of depression. The study includes nine measurement points at intervals of three months. Each measurement full stop includes the completion of online questionnaires and the one-week use of a smartphone app that asks the participants about their feelings and how they deal with them. During the first appointment and six months, one and two years after the first appointment, clinical interviews are conducted. Participants will receive an expense allowance of € 400 if they participate fully in all the interviews.
Study schedule

If you have any questions about the study or are interested in participating, you are very welcome to contact the study team by phone (0178 3165305) or by email ( gefuehlsstudie@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de ). You are welcome to apply for participation in the study early on before your outpatient therapy is completed.

Contact persons: Verena Zimmermann , Christina Timm and Annemarie Miano

Contact: gefuehlsstudie@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de

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