Evaluation of the effectiveness of an abbreviated version of the Attention Training Technique (ATT) for stress prevention in a non-clinical sample: a randomized controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00028472

Enrollment

200

Registered

2022-03-14

Start date

2022-03-28

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Reduction of non-pathological stress, anxiety and depression symptoms to prevent psychological disorders

Interventions

Group 1: Intervention group = Immediate access to intervention ATT shortened (approx. 5 min) over 2 weeks (recommended minimum use: 7 times in 2 weeks) Group 2: Active control group = Immediate access

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: • informed consent • access to the Internet • sufficient knowledge of the German language • willingness to participate in two pseudonymized online surveys and willingness to independently use ATT original/ATT shortened

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: • Previous experience with the Attention Training Technique (ATT) • Diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
• Reduction in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (sum score) at T1 compared to T0, measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Nilges & Essau, 2021)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
• Reduction in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (sum score) at T2 compared to T0, measured by the DASS-21 • Reduction in the perceived stress (sum score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0, measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Schneider et al., 2020) • Improvement in attentional control (sum score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0 as measured by the Attention Control Scale (ACS; Quigley et al., 2017) • Reduction in the frequency with which negative experiences or problems are thought about (sum score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0, measured by the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ; Ehring et al., 2011) • Self-directed attention measured after each ATT implementation at T1, using the Self Attention Rating Scale (Wells, 2000). • Increase in quality of life (mean score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0, as measured by the shortened World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHO-QOL-BREF; WHOQOL Group, 1998) • Increase in detached mindfulness, meta-awareness & attention flexibility with specially constructed questionnaire at T1 compared to T0.	—

Measure

Time frame

• Reduction in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (sum score) at T2 compared to T0, measured by the DASS-21 • Reduction in the perceived stress (sum score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0, measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Schneider et al., 2020) • Improvement in attentional control (sum score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0 as measured by the Attention Control Scale (ACS; Quigley et al., 2017) • Reduction in the frequency with which negative experiences or problems are thought about (sum score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0, measured by the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ; Ehring et al., 2011) • Self-directed attention measured after each ATT implementation at T1, using the Self Attention Rating Scale (Wells, 2000). • Increase in quality of life (mean score) at T1 and T2 compared to T0, as measured by the shortened World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHO-QOL-BREF; WHOQOL Group, 1998) • Increase in detached mindfulness, meta-awareness & attention flexibility with specially constructed questionnaire at T1 compared to T0.

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactSteffen Moritz

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Arbeitsgruppe Klinische Neuropsychologie

moritz@uke.de+49 40 7410 56565

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026