An interventional study of From Fear to Purpose (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and Placebo in Death Anxiety, Depression and Anxiety, sponsored by Babes-Bolyai University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-04-18.
Sponsored by Babes-Bolyai University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The main purpose of this placebo controlled trial is to test the efficacy of a one-session From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention in reducing self-reported death anxiety levels. Another objective of this study is to investigate whether reductions in death anxiety levels are associated with reductions in depression and anxiety levels, thus testing if death anxiety is a transdiagnostic factor involved in psychopathology.
This is a placebo controlled trial where the main objective is to test if the one-session From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention is effective in reducing self-reported death anxiety levels. A secondary objective is to investigate whether reductions in death anxiety levels are associated with reductions in depression and anxiety levels, thus testing if death anxiety is a transdiagnostic factor involved in psychopathology.
Participants will be selected based on death anxiety levels (moderate-high scores) and depression and anxiety symptoms (subclinical levels). Minors, people with suicidal ideation, people with current psychological/psychiatric diagnosis (excepting depression or anxiety diagnosis), people in active psychological/psychiatric treatment will be excluded. Recruited participants will be randomized into two groups: the experimental group (will receive the From Fear to Purpose ACT intervention) and the placebo group. The placebo condition will be undergoing a group-based attentional control activity. Participants will be blinded to the study condition.
The From Fear to Purpose intervention protocol is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, build around identifying and committing to personal values. The intervention will be group-based (90 minutes session). The intervention will be administered by experienced psychotherapists.
The primary outcome is death anxiety, while secondary outcomes are depression and anxiety symptoms, well-being, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance and valued living.
572 studies on the registry are indexed under Death; 111 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 175 is above the median of 133 across 260 interventional studies indexed under Death.
Browse Death studies →Babes-Bolyai University is the lead sponsor of 48 studies on the registry; 12 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
This arm is the experimental group which will receive the intervention. The intervention is a one session From Fear to Purpose ACT Protocol, which is built on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, focused on identifying and committing to personal values.
Other: From Fear to Purpose (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
This arm is the placebo group, which will be undergoing a group-based attentional control intervention.
Other: Placebo
The From Fear to Purpose ACT Protocol is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies, build around identifying and committing to personal values. The intervention will be group-based (90 minutes session).
The placebo condition consists of a group-based attentional control intervention.
Change from baseline Death Anxiety score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration)
Death anxiety measured with Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviours Scale (Menzies, Sharpe, Dar-Nimrod, 2022). Scores range from 18 to 90, with higher scores indicating higher death anxiety levels.
Time frame: From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame)
Change from baseline Depression score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration)
Depression measured with Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (Kroenke, 1999). Scores range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating more severe depression symptoms.
Time frame: From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame)
Change from baseline Anxiety score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration
Anxiety measured with Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (Spitzer, 2006). Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms.
Time frame: From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame)
Change from baseline Well-being score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration)
Distress measured with The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5; WHO, 2024). Scores range from 0 to 25 with higher scores indicating better well-being.
Time frame: From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame)
Change from baseline Psychological Flexibility to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration)
Psychological Flexibility measured with Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy processes (CompACT) (Francis, 2016). Scores range from 0 to 138 with higher scores indicating better psychological flexibility.
Time frame: From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame)
Change from baseline Experiential Avoidance score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration
Experiential Avoidance measured with Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnare (Gamez, 2011). Scores range from 15 to 90 with higher scores indicating higher experiential avoidance.
Time frame: From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame)
Change from baseline Valued Living score to the follow-up moment (6 weeks duration
Valued Living measured with Valuing Questionnare (Smout, 2014). The measure has two subscales: 1. Progress, where scores range from 0 to 30, higher scores indicating a closer alignment between one's internal values and one's actions. 2. Obstruction, where scores range from 0 to 30, higher scores indicating more interference with living consistently with one's values.
Time frame: From enrolment to follow-up (6 weeks time frame)
Satisfaction with the intervention protocol
Satisfaction with the intervention protocol measured with Client Satisfaction Questionnaire - 8 (Attkisson, 1982). Measured post intervention and at follow-up for the experimental group. Scores range from 8 to 32, higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with the intervention.
Time frame: One month
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Yes — Will share IPD used in the results of the publication.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Babes-Bolyai University