Could a simple instruction change how you report depression?
NCT ID NCT06956378
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study explores whether highlighting certain words in questionnaire instructions (like 'bothered by') affects how people with depression or anxiety respond. Two hundred U.S. adults who have been treated for these conditions in the past year will take the same survey twice in one day. The goal is to see if instruction emphasis leads to different scores, which could improve how mental health is measured.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Instruction Emphasis (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could help researchers design better mental health questionnaires that more accurately capture symptoms.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-day study with no treatment involved. Results may not apply to real-world clinical settings or other populations.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of California - Irvine
Orange, California, 92868, United States
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