Smartphone Application, Mood and Stress

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the placebo effect in a smartphone-based training, ostensibly designed to improve mood and perceived stress by daily exposition to either mock sound or color.

Detailed Description
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The overall goal of the outlined study is to investigate the placebo effect in a smartphone-based training, ostensibly designed to improve mood and perceived stress by daily exposition to either mock sound or color. During 14 days, subjects will participate in regular daily training sessions. During another 6 days, subjects will transfer the smartphone-based training to daily life.

Official Title
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Smartphone Application, Mood and Stress

Conditions
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Smartphone Application, Placebo Effect, Mood, Stress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: No expectancy (control)
* Behavioral: Prospective expectancy
* Behavioral: Retrospective expectancy
* Behavioral: Prospective and retrospective expectancy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Access to smartphone during study period Exclusion Criteria: Severe visual impairment Dyschromatopsia Severe defective hearing Regular intake of medication (excl. contraceptives) Severe mental disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: No expectancy (control)<br>No expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training | Behavioral: No expectancy (control)<br>* No expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)<br>|
| Experimental: Prospective expectancy<br>Prospective expectancy instruction (Training will have an effect on...) with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training | Behavioral: Prospective expectancy<br>* Prospective expectancy instruction (Training will have an effect on...) with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)<br>|
| Experimental: Retrospective expectancy<br>Retrospective expectancy instruction (Training already had an effect on...) with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training | Behavioral: Retrospective expectancy<br>* Retrospective expectancy instruction (Training already had an effect on...) with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)<br>|
| Experimental: Prospective and retrospective expectancy<br>Prospective (Training will have an effect on...) and retrospective (Training already had an effect on...) expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training | Behavioral: Prospective and retrospective expectancy<br>* Prospective (Training will have an effect on...) and retrospective (Training already had an effect on...) expectancy instruction with regard to the efficacy of the daily smartphone-based training (exposition to either mock sound or color)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in mood (Assessed via Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire) | Assessed via Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire | Pre- and post-training, during 20 days of training | 
| Change in perceived stress | Assessed via State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory; Visual Analog Scale | Pre- and post-training, during 20 days of training | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Emotional state (Assessed via Self-Assessment-Manikin scales) | Assessed via Self-Assessment-Manikin scales after exposition to affective pictures taken from International Affective Picture System | Post-training, during 20 days of training |