Optimizing the Efficacy of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Using Placebo Mechanisms in an Guided and Unguided Online-intervention

August 6, 2024 updated by: Winfried Rief, Philipps University Marburg Medical Center
This study aims to determine whether a brief video aiming to optimize expectations regarding the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) can enhance the efficacy of a PMR compared to a neutral video control group in an online intervention. Another aim is to assess whether this effect will be moderated by the degree of human support (guided or unguided intervention).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study aims to determine whether a brief video aiming to optimize expectations regarding the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) can enhance the efficacy of a PMR session compared to a neutral video control group in an online intervention. Another aim is to assess whether this effect will be moderated by the degree of human support (guided or unguided intervention). After the baseline assessment, participants are randomized to one of 4 possible intervention groups: i) watching a video aiming to optimize participants' expectations before undergoing a single PMR session without personal support of the experimenter (unguided), ii) watching a video aiming to optimize participants' expectations before undergoing a single PMR session with the personal support of the experimenter (guided), iii) watching a neutral video (not aiming to optimize participants' expectations) before undergoing a single PMR session without personal support of the experimenter (unguided), or iv) watching a neutral video (not aiming to optimize participants' expectations) before undergoing a single PMR session with the personal support of the experimenter (guided). In a pre-posttest design, the subjective stress levels of the participants in the for groups will be analyzed.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

90

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Germany
    • Hessen
      • Marburg, Hessen, Germany, 35032
        • Department of Psychology, Philipps University Marburg

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy participants
  • fluency in the German language to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • muscle disease, muscle cramps, acute psychosis, acute trauma responses, or another chronic somatic illness
  • Mental disorder

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Video optimizing expectations before PMR (unguided)
watching a video aiming to optimize participants' expectations before undergoing a single PMR session without personal support of the experimenter (unguided)
Behavioral: Video optimizing expectations before PMR (unguided) + Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Participants watch a video aiming to optimize participants' expectations before undergoing a single PMR session without personal support of the experimenter (unguided). The PMR session involves learning to monitor tension in each specific muscle group in the body by deliberately inducing tension in each group. This tension is then released, with attention paid to the contrast between tension and relaxation.
Experimental: Video optimizing expectations before PMR (guided)
watching a video aiming to optimize participants' expectations before undergoing a single PMR session with the personal support of the experimenter (guided)
Behavioral: Video optimizing expectations before PMR (guided) + Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Participants watch a video aiming to optimize participants' expectations before undergoing a single PMR session with the personal support of the experimenter (guided). The PMR session involves learning to monitor tension in each specific muscle group in the body by deliberately inducing tension in each group. This tension is then released, with attention paid to the contrast between tension and relaxation.
Active Comparator: Neutral video before PMR (unguided)
watching a neutral video (not aiming to optimize participants' expectations) before undergoing a single PMR session without personal support of the experimenter (unguided),
Behavioral: Neutral video before PMR (unguided) + Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Participants watch a neutral video (not aiming to optimize participants' expectations) before undergoing a single PMR session without personal support of the experimenter (unguided). The PMR session involves learning to monitor tension in each specific muscle group in the body by deliberately inducing tension in each group. This tension is then released, with attention paid to the contrast between tension and relaxation.
Active Comparator: Neutral video before PMR (guided)
watching a neutral video (not aiming to optimize participants' expectations) before undergoing a single PMR session with the personal support of the experimenter (guided)
Behavioral: Neutral video before PMR (guided)+ Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Participants watch a neutral video (not aiming to optimize participants' expectations) before undergoing a single PMR session with the personal support of the experimenter (guided).The PMR session involves learning to monitor tension in each specific muscle group in the body by deliberately inducing tension in each group. This tension is then released, with attention paid to the contrast between tension and relaxation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in perceived stress
Time Frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (30 minutes later)
Participants are asked to rate how stressed they feel at the moment at two time points (baseline and after the PMR intervention) on a questionnaire (VAS: item ranges from 0 (not stressed at all) - 100 (very stressed). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores). More negative change scores are better since it indicates a stronger stress reduction (maximum reduction: -100). Higher positive change scores are worse since this indicates an increase in perceived stress (maximum increase: +100). Range of change scores: -100 - +100).
Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (30 minutes later)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in positive affect
Time Frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (30 minutes later)
Participants are asked to rate adjectives regarding their current mood (positive and negative) at two time points (baseline and after the PMR intervention) on a questionnaire. Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores). Instrument: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) by Watson, Clark, and Tellegen (1988) is a self-report questionnaire that consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much). Range for sum score of positive/negative affect: 10-50. For positive affect higher scores are better; for negative affect lower scores are better.
Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (30 minutes later)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Philipps University Marburg Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 7, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 11, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

September 15, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 13, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 13, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

July 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 7, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 6, 2024

Last Verified

August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • augment_PMR

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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