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

Summary

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).

Conditions

• Healthy Participants

Interventions

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Philipps University Marburg

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-07-07

Primary Completion

2021-09-11

Completion

2021-09-15

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations