Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Aug 13, 2024
Date Accepted: Feb 5, 2025
The EmpkinS-EKSpression Reappraisal Training Augmented with (In-)Validating Kinesthesia in Depression: Feasibility Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Harboring dysfunctional depressogenic cognitions contributes to the development and maintenance of depression. A central goal of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression is to invalidate such cognitions via cognitive reappraisal. Potentially, effects of CBT can be enhanced by systematically pairing the invalidation of depressogenic cognitions with the performance of anti-depressive kinaesthesia.
Objective:
In this study, we examined the feasibility and clinical potential of a smartphone-based cognitive restructuring task that required users to deliberately perform anti-depressive facial expressions in conjunction with the rejection of depressogenic, and the affirmation of anti-depressive statements. This feasibility study was conducted as a precursor to a large-scale randomized controlled trial.
Methods:
Ten healthy participants participated in a 90-120-minute session of a smartphone-based cognitive reappraisal training designed with built-in prompts for users to display anti-depressive facial expressions. Diagnostic assessments were conducted one week (T1) before and directly prior (T2) to the training, and again directly post-training (T3) and at 2-week follow-up post-training (T4). Feasibility outcomes included intervention safety, compliance, technical feasibility, usability, and acceptability. Preliminary clinical potential was evaluated via ratings of current depressed and positive mood.
Results:
Overall, the results indicated that the training was safe, feasible, and usable, whereas acceptance was limited. Preliminary results regarding clinical potential were promising.
Conclusions:
This feasibility study provided valuable insights that led to optimizations in the smartphone-based training and methodological fine-tuning of study procedures before implementation of the randomized controlled trial. Thereby, it contributes to the future improvement of depression treatment. Clinical Trial: https://osf.io/pw6ma/
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