Calming Minds Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An international randomised factorial trial of therapist-supported online cognitive behavioural therapy for the reduction of repetitive negative thought (overthinking, rumination, worry) in adults: the Calming Minds study

• IRAS ID

  356635

• Contact name

  Edward Watkins

• Contact email

  E.R.Watkins@exeter.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Exeter

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Repetitive negative thought (RNT; worry, rumination, and overthinking) influences the onset and maintenance of anxiety and depression. Due to this, treatment often targets RNT. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can effectively reduce RNT, but we don’t know exactly how it helps. Our key goals are to test the specific elements within CBT that help to reduce RNT. We will do this by giving people different combinations of these elements in an internet-delivered CBT programme, and look at how this influences their RNT.
  This study will recruit from within both the UK and the USA and is funded by the Wellcome Trust.  
  Participants will receive one of 16 variants of online CBT with either a high or low level of information on each of the CBT components. They will have up to 16 weeks to complete 6 therapy sessions. They will also receive a minimum of three contact sessions with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP; UK)/ coach (USA) during the treatment phase to support their completion of the online CBT. In the UK the PWPs will be employed by University of Exeter specifically for this study.  
  Participants will complete questionnaires at baseline, through the 16-week treatment period and at 16- & 52-weeks after they are randomised into the study. The primary outcome will be change in the level of RNT from baseline to 16 weeks and secondary outcomes will include change in anxiety, depression, mental wellbeing, rumination, worry, social functioning and RNT in everyday life.  
  This study aims to transform early intervention treatments using an online platform which is more accessible, effective, and cost-effective, than current options.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/YH/0227

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 Dec 2025

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion