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Study protocol: A micro-randomized trial for a just-in-time adaptive intervention to manage problem anger after
Tianchen Qian1, David Forbes2, Meaghan L O'Donnell3
1Department of Statistics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Acta Psychologica
|March 22, 2026
Summary
This study tests a new app, Shift, to help manage problem anger in trauma survivors. Prompting users to use tailored anger management modules reduced anger intensity, showing potential for digital mental health tools.
Area of Science:
- Digital mental health
- Trauma-informed care
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Problem anger is a prevalent mental health issue for trauma survivors.
- The Shift app, a cognitive-behavioral tool, offers personalized anger management support.
- The app prompts users to report anger and delivers tailored interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if prompted engagement with tailored Shift modules reduces anger intensity compared to no prompts.
- To investigate if anger state or study duration moderates the intervention's effect.
- To assess the acceptability of the Shift intervention.
Main Methods:
- A 30-day micro-randomized trial with 65 adults with problem anger and trauma history.
- Participants were prompted four times daily to self-report anger and randomized to receive tailored Shift modules.
- Intervention acceptability was evaluated via surveys and app engagement metrics. Anger intensity data will optimize decision rules for a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI).
Main Results:
- Prompted engagement with tailored modules significantly reduced near-term anger intensity.
- The intervention was found to be acceptable among participants.
- Analysis indicated that the effect of the intervention was not significantly moderated by anger state or days in the study.
Conclusions:
- This study represents the first digital trial using micro-randomization to optimize a JITAI for problem anger in trauma-exposed individuals.
- It is among the few micro-randomized trials focused on optimizing digital mental health tools for emotional dysregulation.
- Findings support the potential of JITAIs delivered via mobile health interventions for managing problem anger.
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