Cognitive, behavioral, and affective mechanisms underlying the efficacy of Applied Relaxation in reducing psychopathological symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.

Eva Asselmann, Frank Rückert, Hanna Kische, Monique Zenker, Lars Pieper, Katja Beesdo-Baum

Registry-linked trialAbstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Journal of mood and anxiety disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03311529 (Effectiveness and Underlying Mechanisms of Applied Relaxation as Indicated Preventive Intervention in Subjects at Increased Risk for Mental Disorders), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03311529 nacompletednot on this map

Effectiveness and Underlying Mechanisms of Applied Relaxation as Indicated Preventive Intervention in Subjects at Increased Risk for Mental Disorders

TypeinterventionalSponsorTechnische Universität DresdenRan2016 to 2019Enrolled277ConditionsAnxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Stress DisorderArmsApplied Relaxation

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Eva AsselmannDepartment of Psychology, Institute for Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine, HMU Health and Medical University, Potsdam, Germany.

Frank RückertBehavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, TUD, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.

Hanna KischeBehavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, TUD, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.

Monique ZenkerBehavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, TUD, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.

Lars PieperBehavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, TUD, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.

Katja Beesdo-BaumBehavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, TUD, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: This study examined the cognitive, behavioral, and affective mechanisms underlying the efficacy of Applied Relaxation (AR) in reducing psychopathological symptoms. AR is a cognitive-behavioral technique that allows for rapid relaxation at the first sign of stress or tension in daily life. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 277 adults (18-55 years) with elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress but without a 12-month DSM-5 mental disorder at study entry. Participants were randomized to an intervention group receiving AR training (10 weeks, N = 139) and an assessment-only control group (N = 138). Mental health outcomes (depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms) and potential cognitive (self-efficacy, perceived control), behavioral (coping behaviors) and affective (positive and negative affect) mediators of the intervention efficacy were assessed at baseline and post-assessment in both groups. Results: Structural equation models indicated that baseline to post reductions in psychopathological symptoms due to AR partially passed through less avoidance-oriented and less other dysfunctional coping (proportion of total effect mediated; ratio of indirect to total effect: resignation: 55.0%, rumination: 27.9%, escape: 27.4%, aggression: 21.3%), less negative affect (46.3%), more positive affect (41.8%), lower external control beliefs (14.5%), and higher self-efficacy (13.3%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that improvements in cognitive, behavioral, and affective mediator variables partially explain the intervention efficacy of AR in improving mental health. Trial registration and data statement: The study protocol has been pre-registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03311529). The study protocol, minimum dataset, and analysis codes are available at OpARA - Open Access Repository and Archive. Supplementary materials (e.g., the course manual and additional training materials) are available on request from the last author (katja.beesdo-baum@tu-dresden.de).

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionHealth promotionMediatorStressStress reduction

Identifiers

PMID40655922

DOI10.1016/j.xjmad.2024.100055

PMCPMC12244012

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LicenceCC BY

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Registered trials

NCT03311529ClinicalTrials.gov

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.