Study of a brief online and group focusing intervention: a protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Emotion dysregulation is a transdiagnostic characteristic that affects many people with many psychopathological problems. Two mechanisms that have been frequently associated with emotional regulation are immersion and distancing. Focusing is a task that combines these two mechanisms of emotion regulation through the phase of creating a working distance and subsequently the phase of reassigning meaning. However, the benefit of its use in Portuguese population without a moderate to severe symptomatology for promoting mental health remains unclear.

Participants aged between 18 and 65 years who wish to improve their awareness and understanding of their emotions will be recruited and then, randomised into two groups: the intervention group (IG) and the control group (CG; delayed intervention). The IG will have access to two focusing sessions and the CG will only have access to the intervention 4 weeks later. Both groups will be evaluated at five different times. Primary outcomes include positive and negative affect, attitudes towards focusing (emotions and bodily sensations), the ability to perform focusing and emotion regulation. Secondary outcomes include mental health and psychological well-being, depression and anxiety symptoms and self-esteem.

Our study has been approved by the Council of Ethics and Deontology of the University of Maia. Findings will be disseminated via manuscripts, presentations and the lead author's thesis.

ISRCTN16974329.