Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Self-Help Smartphone App “COGITO” for Problematic Pornography Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00036383

Enrollment

400

Registered

2025-05-12

Start date

2025-05-12

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-06

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

Conditions

Problematic pornography use

Interventions

CAU).

Group 1: Intervention group = Access to the COGITO app. The self-help smartphone app sends up to two daily reminders via push notifications to encourage regular use of the exercises. Group 2: Waitlist

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Desire to reduce one’s pornography consumption Informed consent to participate in the study Access to the internet and a smartphone Sufficient proficiency in German Willingness to participate in three pseudonymized online surveys Willingness to independently use the COGITO app Willingness to provide an (optionally pseudonymized) email address

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Lifetime diagnosis of psychotic or bipolar disorder Acute suicidal intent

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Reduction in problematic pornography use at post assessment (T2, 6 weeks after baseline) compared to baseline, measured by the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS).	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Reduction in problematic pornography use at T1 (3 weeks after baseline) compared to T0, measured by the PPCS. Reduction of depressive symptoms at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Reduction in sexual distress at T1/T2, measured by the Sexual Distress Scale (SDS-3). Reduction in compulsive sexual behavior at T1/T2, measured by the Compulsive Sexual Be-havior Disorder Scales (CSBD-19, CSBD-DI). Increase in sexual satisfaction at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX). Reduction of symptoms of sexual dysfunction at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Ari-zona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). Increase in quality of life at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the WHO Quality of Life short version (WHOQOL-BREF). Reduction in social media addiction at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Changes in symptoms of sexual inhibition and sexual excitation at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Short Form of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scale (SIS/SES-SF).	—

Measure

Time frame

Reduction in problematic pornography use at T1 (3 weeks after baseline) compared to T0, measured by the PPCS. Reduction of depressive symptoms at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Reduction in sexual distress at T1/T2, measured by the Sexual Distress Scale (SDS-3). Reduction in compulsive sexual behavior at T1/T2, measured by the Compulsive Sexual Be-havior Disorder Scales (CSBD-19, CSBD-DI). Increase in sexual satisfaction at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX). Reduction of symptoms of sexual dysfunction at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Ari-zona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). Increase in quality of life at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the WHO Quality of Life short version (WHOQOL-BREF). Reduction in social media addiction at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Changes in symptoms of sexual inhibition and sexual excitation at T1/T2 compared to T0, measured by the Short Form of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scale (SIS/SES-SF).

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactSteffen Moritz

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

moritz@uke.de+49 40 7410 56565

Outcome results

None listed

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