Could a simple email lift depression? new trial tests Positive-Affect program in zimbabwe

NCT ID NCT07682779

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 06, 2026 · Last updated Jul 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether a brief email program that helps young adults focus on positive experiences can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. One hundred participants aged 18-25 in Zimbabwe will either receive the email program or general mental health information. The study will check if the program is practical and liked, and whether it improves mood and reduces stigma.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Email-delivered positive affect intervention (SPARK-Z)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a low-cost, scalable way to improve mental health for young adults in low-resource settings.
What could go wrong
This is a small feasibility study, so results may not be generalizable. The intervention is brief and may not produce lasting changes.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 100 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Jul 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Aug 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 25 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria Participants must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Aged 18-25 years. 2. Able to understand and read English. 3. Previously participated in Stage 1 of the study and provided consent to be contacted regarding future research opportunities. 4. Have access to a device (for example smartphone, tablet, or computer) and internet connectivity for intervention delivery. 5. Report moderate levels of depression at baseline assessment. Exclusion Criteria Participants will be excluded if they: 1. Are at high risk of suicide. 2. Are currently experiencing a psychotic episode. 3. Are currently experiencing interpersonal violence.

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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.

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Zimbabwe Partner Site (Online Recruitment)

    Harare, Harare, 00000, Zimbabwe

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