Reframing depressive Symptoms as a functional signal: effects on adaptive learning and expectations on symptom course and treatment

Reframing depressive Symptoms as a functional signal: effects on adaptive learning and expectations on symptom course and treatment - REFLECT

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00038521

Enrollment

Registered

2025-12-05

Start date

2025-12-16

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-06-01

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

Conditions

F32 F33

Interventions

Group 1: Single-session-intervention (30 min) with expectation optimization (depressive symptoms as a functional signal). Pre-test before the interview, post-test after the interview, two-week short s

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Diagnosed mild or moderate depressive episode or recurrent depressive disorder with current mild or moderate episode

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: No depression Severe depression Acute suicidality

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Measurement points: T1 (before the expectation manipulation), T2 (after the expectation manipulation), EMA survey (after T2 over 14 days, three times a day), follow-up (after the EMA survey) Change in perceived controllability of depressive symptoms (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), T1, T2, EMA survey, follow-up) Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory Revision (BDI-II) at T1, follow-up) Depressive symptoms short version (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), at EMA survey) Illness attribution (recorded at symptom level for each depressive symptom experienced on the BDI-II using a dichotomous response scale “biological” vs. “psychosocial” with an alternative option “other” at measurement points T1, T2, follow-up) Treatment expectations (Generic Rating Scale for Previous Treatment Experiences, Treatment Expectations, and Treatment Effects (GEEE), at all measurement points)	—

Measure

Time frame

Measurement points: T1 (before the expectation manipulation), T2 (after the expectation manipulation), EMA survey (after T2 over 14 days, three times a day), follow-up (after the EMA survey) Change in perceived controllability of depressive symptoms (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), T1, T2, EMA survey, follow-up) Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory Revision (BDI-II) at T1, follow-up) Depressive symptoms short version (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), at EMA survey) Illness attribution (recorded at symptom level for each depressive symptom experienced on the BDI-II using a dichotomous response scale “biological” vs. “psychosocial” with an alternative option “other” at measurement points T1, T2, follow-up) Treatment expectations (Generic Rating Scale for Previous Treatment Experiences, Treatment Expectations, and Treatment Effects (GEEE), at all measurement points)

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Self-efficacy expectancy and perceived control (scale for general self-efficacy expectancy (SWE) at each measurement point T1 & follow-up) Expectations regarding symptom progression (recorded at symptom level for each item of the BDI-II using a Likert scale from 0-10 at T1 & follow-up) Credibility of treatment (Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), at T1 & T2) Sociodemographic variables (biological & social gender, age, educational level, occupation, German language skills; collected at T1)	—

Measure

Time frame

Self-efficacy expectancy and perceived control (scale for general self-efficacy expectancy (SWE) at each measurement point T1 & follow-up) Expectations regarding symptom progression (recorded at symptom level for each item of the BDI-II using a Likert scale from 0-10 at T1 & follow-up) Credibility of treatment (Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), at T1 & T2) Sociodemographic variables (biological & social gender, age, educational level, occupation, German language skills; collected at T1)

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactMarcel Wilhelm

Philipps-Universität Marburg

marcel.wilhelm@uni-marburg.de+49 6421 2823617

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Jun 11, 2026