Can a therapist's virtual hand-holding make online therapy for unexplained symptoms more effective?

NCT ID NCT06301360

Symptom relief Sponsor: Daniel Maroti Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial compares two versions of an internet-based emotional awareness and expression therapy (I-EAET) for people with functional somatic disorder—a condition where physical symptoms like chronic pain or fatigue have no clear medical cause. One group gets weekly written feedback from a therapist; the other works through the program on their own with only technical support. The study asks whether having a therapist's guidance leads to greater relief from symptoms like pain, fatigue, and anxiety.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: internet-based Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (I-EAET) with or without therapist support
What this could lead to: If therapist support proves more effective, it could point toward a scalable, low-cost treatment for functional somatic disorders that reduces doctor visits and improves patient satisfaction.
What could go wrong: This is a relatively small trial (150 participants) comparing two versions of the same therapy, so any difference may be modest. The therapy requires emotional engagement, which may not suit everyone.

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

150 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Dec 2023

Finished

Dec 2025

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 years and older

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: * The research subject certifies that he/she has undergone medical assessment for his/her physical symptoms. * The subject rates either moderate distress from bodily symptoms in the PHQ-15 (over 10 points) or severe distress from a single bodily symptom (at least 2 points for this symptom). * The research participants expresses interest in investigating whether emotional factors such as stress may contribute to symptoms. * Research subjects either affirm the presence of emotionally difficult life events (affirm at least 1 such event in the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE-10) or reach the proposed cut-off point of 23p in the PCL-5). * Drugs used should have been stable for at least 1 month. Exclusion Criteria: * Research subjects suffer from ongoing substance abuse (alcohol or drugs) or are deemed to have serious mental illness (psychotic illness, suicidal ideation, antisocial personality disorder etc). * The research subjects have ongoing medication of a clearly addictive and sedative nature (e.g. benzodiazepines). * The research subject participates in other psychological treatment focusing on physical symptoms. However, other psychological treatment is allowed where the support therapy does not take place more often than once a month. * The research subject does not master the Swedish language sufficiently to be able to assimilate written material in Swedish.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

somatization disorder somatoform disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Functional somatic disorder Functional somatic syndromes Somatic symptom disorder

Can a therapist's virtual hand-holding make online therapy for unexplained symptoms more effective?

What the study statuses mean