STUDY
App-based support while waiting for psychotherapy
In a clinical study, we are investigating the effect of elona explore as a supportive aid on the way to outpatient psychotherapy.
research partners
Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
participants
People under increased mental stress
takeoff
Novembre 2023
Study centers in
Cologne, Düsseldorf, Willich
note
Please note that participation is only possible following a psychotherapeutic consultation at one of our local study centers in Cologne, Düsseldorf or Willich. You are welcome to sign up for this.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Relieve waiting time
We know how difficult it is to find a vacant psychotherapy spot. This is also an unsatisfactory situation for doctors, because they too want one thing above all else: help. However, waiting times cannot currently be avoided.
That's why we created Elona Explore. The digital health application was developed in collaboration with experienced psychotherapists to give people in psychologically stressful situations the opportunity to deal with their mental health immediately and easily.
What can you expect?
In an initial psychotherapeutic consultation, we will first assess your symptoms at the beginning. If you meet the inclusion criteria, you can take the next steps with your practitioner.
From then on, our research team will support you for over 10 weeks, during which you will complete questionnaires about your health status online at various times.
The aim of this study is to find out when the waiting period for psychotherapeutic treatment can be accompanied by digital interventions. At a random time, you will therefore have access to the elona explore digital health application, which you can use to its full extent.
These benefits await you
- Short-term psychotherapeutic consultation instead of waiting weeks
In a 50-minute initial psychotherapeutic consultation in one of our partner practices, your symptoms will be assessed by a psychoptherapist and your need for treatment will be identified. - Elona Explore
At random time, you will receive access to the CE-marked elona explore digital health application. - Expense allowance
For participation in the study, participants receive an expense allowance of a total of 60 EUR in the form of a flexibly redeemable shopping voucher. - Independent participation
You don't need a doctor's referral. We'll check that you can be included in the program.
Study participation requirements
You are suitable for participation if:
- You feel like you're enjoying your usual activities much less than before
- Your self-esteem and self-confidence have been lower recently
- Your mood is often bad or you are often sad
- You sleep poorly and get out of bed
- You are less active or hopeless
- You are often tense, such as on the train, on an airplane, or among people
- You often suffer from anxiety, which can also be reflected in body symptoms such as trembling, palpitations or sweating
You are not eligible to participate if:
- You are not yet of legal age
- You have signs of bipolar or psychotic disorder
- you have a substance use disorder (particularly alcohol or drug abuse, or medication misuse)
- You are suicidal (If you have acute suicidal thoughts or suicidal intentions, please contact the emergency services on 112 (nationwide) or a psychiatric facility near you)
How does the study work?
01
signup
Using initial questionnaires, our psychotherapists will assess your situation and get back to you as soon as possible.
02
initial consultation
If you are generally qualified, we will invite you to an initial psychotherapeutic consultation at one of our partner practices in Cologne, Düsseldorf or Willich.
03
Access to app & questionnaires
The study period of 10 weeks begins. At a random time, you'll get access to elona explore.
04
Using the app
We recommend using Elona Explore for around 30 to 60 minutes a week.
05
Expense allowance
After completing the study, you will receive your final expense allowance. We also welcome your feedback on elona explore!
Are you interested in participating?
Our study is currently ongoing. We are looking forward to your registration.
Frequently asked questions
If you meet the inclusion or exclusion criteria, you can easily contact us via this website. You will then go through a small screening, i.e. a preliminary investigation, during which we will also check once again, for your own safety, whether you are fundamentally suitable for the study. If this is the case, we will give you the opportunity to attend a psychotherapeutic consultation in one of our practices.
No, the study runs independently of day-to-day practice and is managed by research partners (HHU Düsseldorf, University of Göttingen). If patients are offered a treatment place during the study period, they can of course accept it.
No, inclusion during regular outpatient or inpatient psychotherapeutic therapy is not possible. However, starting therapy in the course of the study is not ruled out. You can use the healthcare system without restrictions.
As soon as you have access to the elona explore digital health application, we ask you to use the application between 30 and 60 minutes a week.
No We will cover the costs for Elona Explore. Should further examinations be necessary, these will be carried out as part of the regular health care system.
To check the inclusion criteria, we offer you a 50-minute psychotherapeutic consultation at one of our partner practices in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Willich. You can then use the digital health application from the comfort of your home.
Only a technical study employee and your practitioner or psychotherapist will be aware of your participation in the study. All data is pseudonymized for further use so that it no longer allows conclusions to be drawn. In addition, we comply with the applicable data protection regulations. The study concept as well as our data protection concept were reviewed by the ethics committee of the University of Göttingen.
Research manager
Ece Atik
Your contact person
You have further questions about the study and participation
or about the process? Feel free to email our study coordinator Ece at any time at research (at) elona.eu.