eMotion for Emotional Well-being

Overseen by Kelly L Wierenga, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Indiana University

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, Palliative care, Legally blind

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The eMotion intervention, developed by the PI, provides training on multiple emotion regulation skills based on leading theories and evidence-based emotion regulation interventions. After initial pilot testing of eMotion, the investigators revised the intervention to make it more relevant to women from diverse backgrounds, as these women are disproportionately impacted by social determinants of health that complicate their recovery. It is important to revise the intervention to be acceptable to women from diverse backgrounds and to address their unique needs. The investigators want to explore if women from diverse backgrounds find the revised intervention relevant, meaningful, and easy to understand and apply to their lives. Their feedback will help investigators further revise the intervention to make it acceptable for this population.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

How does the eMotion treatment differ from other treatments for emotional well-being?

The eMotion treatment is unique because it focuses on enhancing emotion differentiation, which is the ability to precisely identify and distinguish emotions. This approach is linked to improved emotional well-being by reducing negative emotional intensity and promoting the belief that emotions can change, which is not typically emphasized in other treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Kelly L Wierenga, PhD

Principal Investigator

Indiana University School of Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for women living independently with mild symptoms of depression or anxiety, as measured by specific questionnaires. They must have experienced their first major cardiac event. The study aims to help those particularly affected by social factors that influence health recovery.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had a major heart event for the first time.

I live on my own.

I have mild depression or anxiety based on PHQ-8 or GAD-7 scores.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 10-week eMotion intervention focusing on emotion regulation skills with weekly lessons and virtual meetings

10 weeks

10 virtual meetings

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in distress and physical activity over a three-month period

3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• eMotion (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The eMotion intervention is being tested for its relevance and effectiveness in helping women from diverse backgrounds manage emotions after a cardiovascular event. It's based on evidence-based emotion regulation skills tailored to meet unique needs.

Participant Groups

Group I: eMotion Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This is a single-group study assessing participation satisfaction with the 10-week eMotion intervention. The eMotion intervention is based on feasibility testing of the successful in-person program with critical refinement to improve accessibility. eMotion has undergone subsequent content validity testing with intervention development, self-management, cardiovascular health, and health information technology delivery experts. eMotion teaches a carefully selected repertoire of emotion regulation strategies well suited for adults following a first cardiac event.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Indiana University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,063

Recruited

1,182,000+

Alan Palkowitz

Indiana University

Chief Executive Officer since 2020

PhD in Chemistry from Indiana University

David Ingram

Indiana University

Chief Medical Officer since 2020

MD from Indiana University School of Medicine

Findings from Research

In a study of 72 adolescents, the ability to differentiate negative emotions was linked to lower levels of negativity and a belief in the malleability of emotions, suggesting that understanding negative feelings contributes to emotional well-being.

Differentiating positive emotions did not show a significant relationship with emotional well-being, highlighting that awareness of negative emotions may be more crucial for adolescents' overall mental health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotion differentiation and its relation with emotional well-being in adolescents. Lennarz, HK., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Timmerman, ME., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 445 participants over 2 to 3 weeks, reappraising both positive and negative emotions, as well as suppressing negative emotions, was linked to experiencing more positive daily events and improved well-being.

Interestingly, while suppressing positive emotions was associated with lower well-being, the benefits of effective emotion regulation strategies were most pronounced on days with more negative events, highlighting their importance during challenging times.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Influence of Daily Events on Emotion Regulation and Well-Being in Daily Life. Newman, DB., Nezlek, JB.[2022]

In a series of 6 studies involving a total of 532 participants, researchers found that individuals with higher global well-being showed reduced emotional reactivity to positive events, indicating they experienced smaller increases in momentary positive affect.

The results suggest that while positive events may significantly enhance the mood of individuals with lower well-being, those with higher well-being may not benefit as much from these joyful experiences, as evidenced by smaller decreases in negative affect.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Higher well-being is related to reduced affective reactivity to positive events in daily life. Grosse Rueschkamp, JM., Kuppens, P., Riediger, M., et al.[2020]

Positive emotional states can enhance physical well-being and influence health perceptions and beliefs, suggesting a strong connection between emotions and health outcomes.

The authors identify several mechanisms through which positive emotions may promote health, including direct physiological effects on the immune system, motivation for healthy behaviors, and the facilitation of social support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional states and physical health. Salovey, P., Rothman, AJ., Detweiler, JB., et al.[2022]

Positive emotions are traditionally seen as beneficial for psychological health, but new research indicates they can also lead to negative outcomes when their intensity or context does not align with an individual's goals or environmental demands.

The concept of Positive Emotion Disturbance (PED) is introduced, highlighting the need for further research into how positive emotions can sometimes contribute to emotional disorders and affect psychological change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Understanding and Taking Stock of Positive Emotion Disturbance. Gruber, J., Villanueva, C., Burr, E., et al.[2023]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotion differentiation and its relation with emotional well-being in adolescents. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Influence of Daily Events on Emotion Regulation and Well-Being in Daily Life. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Higher well-being is related to reduced affective reactivity to positive events in daily life. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional states and physical health. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Understanding and Taking Stock of Positive Emotion Disturbance. [2023]