Can facing symptoms Head-On boost therapy for chronic physical distress?
NCT ID NCT07757854
First seen Aug 11, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial asks whether adding structured exposure exercises to response prevention—a core part of exposure therapy—makes a meaningful difference for people who are highly bothered by persistent physical symptoms. About 360 adults with high symptom burden will be randomly assigned to receive either response prevention alone or response prevention plus exposure exercises. The study tracks changes in symptom reactivity week by week to see if the extra exposure component improves outcomes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Behavioral therapy: exposure exercises and response prevention
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could refine exposure-based treatments for people with persistent physical symptoms, making therapy more effective and targeted.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is early-stage and the benefit of adding exposure exercises is uncertain. Results may not apply to all patients, and therapy requires active participation.
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
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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
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About 360 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Bothered by at least one somatic symptom for at least 4 months. * High symptom burden, defined as a PHQ-15≥15 or SSD-12≥25. * Adult (≥18 years old). * Living in Stockholm County (catchment area of the clinic). * Sufficient technical knowledge with web-enabled device and fluent in Swedish. * Complete pre-treatment assessment. Exclusion Criteria: * A maximum of half the sample (180 participants) will be included with health anxiety, i.e., a fear of or preoccupation with serious illness, as their principal clinical problem. * Clinical picture dominated by non-somatoform psychiatric disorder such as depression, panic disorder, or primary insomnia. Comorbidities are allowed. * Severe psychiatric condition (e.g., ongoing manic episode, psychotic disorder, severe depression) or markers for suicidality beyond sporadic ideation. * Clear medical risk in taking part in exposure-based treatment (e.g., pregnancy), or somatic condition, or treatment for somatic condition, makes treatment unfeasible. * Continuous psychotropic medication (antidepressants, anticonvulsants, mood-stabilizers, antipsychotics) is present and has either not been stable for at least 4 weeks, or is not expected to remain stable. * Other psychotherapy or planned absence \>1 week during intended main phase.
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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.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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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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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
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Liljeholmen University Primary Health Care Centre
Stockholm, 117 63, Sweden
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