Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42160755›Full record

Trial reportJMIR formative research2026

Impact of Restriction-Resumption Protocols on Mood and Anxiety in Healthy Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Nickolai Titov, Alison Dagnall, Alana Fisher, Olav Nielssen, Rony Kayrouz, Michael Jones, Heather Hadjistavropoulos, Daniel Rock, Lauren Staples, Blake Dear

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

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

10 authors.

Nickolai TitovMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7268-729X
Alison DagnallMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0009-0007-4700-1499
Alana FisherMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6027-659X
Olav NielssenMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5172-2781
Rony KayrouzMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2687-6724
Michael JonesMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0565-4938
Heather HadjistavropoulosUniversity of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-7092-9056
Daniel RockPsychiatry, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8758-7905
Lauren StaplesMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3401-6815
Blake DearMacquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9324-3092

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSimple behavioral and cognitive actions can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, there is limited research investigating whether restricting those same actions increases symptoms and whether resuming those actions reduces symptoms.

objectiveThe primary aim was to examine the impact of restricting, then resuming (the "restriction-resumption protocol"), 5 groups of actions called the Things You Do (TYD), on symptoms of depression and anxiety. Participant satisfaction with life and perceptions of changes in behavior and mental health were also evaluated.

methodsIn total, 70 adults were randomly allocated to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). IG participants completed a 3-phase protocol over 8 weeks: a 2-week baseline period (phase A), 2 weeks of restricted TYD actions (phase B), and a 4-week resumption phase (phase C). CG participants were instructed to maintain their usual activities and routines. Primary outcomes included symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and frequency of TYD actions. Secondary outcomes included satisfaction with life and perceived changes in mental well-being. Outcomes were measured weekly throughout the 8-week trial and again after the trial at week 9.

resultsScores on outcome measures did not differ between groups during phase A and after the trial. However, by the end of phase B, IG participants showed significantly increased symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to CG participants (Ps<.001). Large within-group effect sizes were observed on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 from baseline to the end of phase B (Cohen d>1.8) and from phase B to after the trial (Cohen d>1.9). Changes in satisfaction with life and evaluations of mental health corresponded with symptom changes.

conclusionsThese findings demonstrate a relationship between the frequency of performing specific actions and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The restriction-resumption protocol has the potential to increase our understanding of causal mechanisms underlying common mental disorders and may lead to the development of new models of prevention and treatment.

trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12624001491550; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=388828&isReview=true.

Indexed as

AffectAnxietyDepressionAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and Questionnairesanxietybehaviorcognitionsdepressiondeteriorationdisabilityetiologyhabitsmechanismsmethodologypreventionpsychological modelrestrictionresumption

Identifiers

PMID42160755
PMCPMC13234537

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.