NCT07471529

Activating Social Resources in Psychotherapy-Seeking Individuals: Effectiveness and Timing of a Social Support Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Zurich · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study evaluates a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) aiming to foster social support processes for adults with elevated depressive symptoms awaiting outpatient psychotherapy. Utilizing a daily-level micro-randomized trial (MRT) design conducted over 21 days, participants are assessed six times daily. Participants are randomized across four conditions: (1) vulnerability-triggered, (2) vulnerability and receptivity-triggered, (3) support-need-triggered, and (4) a no-intervention control. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the JITAI in reducing daily depressive symptoms and increasing received social support (primary outcomes), as well as reducing daily loneliness and enhancing perceived social support (secondary outcomes). Furthermore, the study aims to compare the relative efficacy of three distinct triggering strategies to identify the most effective timing for intervention delivery.

Conditions

• Loneliness
• Social Support
• Depressive Symptoms

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Social Support Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention	The intervention is a smartphone-based system designed to encourage the activation of social support networks during critical moments. Triggers are based on real-time Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data. When a condition is met, the app prompts participants to identify a specific type of support needed and a person from their social network to contact. It then provides one of three evidence-based recommendations to facilitate effective support-seeking behavior (direct communication, solution-focused discussion, and reframing the situation). If no social contact is available, the app suggests alternative self-help activities. Detailed information can be found on the OSF project page: https://osf.io/4e8gz

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-04-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2026-12-01
• First posted: 2026-03-13
• Last updated: 2026-03-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland