Sitting in the dark for 3 days might quiet your mind, pilot study suggests
NCT ID NCT07429617
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether spending three days and nights in complete darkness can reduce worry and rumination in healthy adults. Thirty participants will stay in a dark cabin with no electronics, and researchers will monitor their well-being and psychological changes. The main goal is to see if the study protocol is safe and feasible, with a secondary look at potential mental health benefits.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
darkness retreat (3 days of seclusion in complete darkness)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to ease worry and repetitive negative thinking in healthy people.
What could go wrong
This is a very small pilot study (30 people) testing feasibility, not effectiveness. Results may not apply to people with clinical anxiety or depression.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for STUDY PROTOCOL FEASIBILITY are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Study contacts
-
Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
-
Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
-
Poznań Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland
RECRUITINGPoznan, Wielkopolska, 61-719, Poland
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
-
SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities
RECRUITINGPoznan, Poland
Contact Email: •••••@•••••