STUDY

Ongoing

Psychological stress during studies

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Robert Enke Foundation

In a cohort study, we are investigating the effect of elona therapy as an accompaniment to outpatient online psychotherapy.Panikstörung oder Agoraphobie.

research partners

Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Elona Health GmbH

participants

Students under increased mental stress

To sign up

runtime

November 2021 to April 2022

population size

110 test subjects

note

Please note that due to high demand, we unfortunately have to keep a waiting list at the moment. We hope to be able to provide more capacity again in the short term.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Try out integrated psychotherapy

As a university-related spin-off of HHU, we have developed Elona therapy. elony therapy is a smartphone app that is used in parallel with outpatient behavioral therapy and is intended to help process therapy content between therapy sessions and thus support the learning process. In doing so, we want to intensify treatment and promote the relationship between patients and therapists.

To test elona therapy, we offer students with subclinical depressive or anxiety symptoms both free six-week online talk therapy by psychologists and access to our app. This study is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Clinical Psychology (Prof.

The study app

What is Elona Explore?

elona explore is a digital health application developed by experienced psychotherapists and experts from science. It should help you get flexible access to effective psychotherapeutic content and techniques even while you are waiting.

Im Rahmen der Studie erhalten Sie zu einem zufälligen Zeitpunkt (auf den Ihre Behandler:in keinen Einfluss hat) Zugang zu elona therapy.

Study participation requirements

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You are eligible to participate if:

  • You feel that you are enjoying your usual activities much less than before
  • Sie intensive Angstanfälle erleben, d. h. plötzlich auftretende, starke Angstgefühle, die typischerweise von Körpersymptomen begleitet werden (z. B. Herzrasen, Zittern, Übelkeit)
  • You are less active or hopeless
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You are not eligible to participate if:

  • You are not yet of legal age
  • You have signs of bipolar mood or psychotic disorder
  • you have a substance use disorder (particularly alcohol or substance abuse, or medication abuse)
  • you are suicidal (If you have acute suicidal thoughts or suicidal intentions, please contact the emergency services on 112 (nationwide) or a psychiatric facility near you)

You should also bring the following with you:

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Willingness to attend therapy sessions

You have the time and desire to attend a personal, 25-minute therapy session online once a week.

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Willingness to use the elona guide app

You can imagine working in the Elona Therapy app for about 5-10 minutes a day between therapy sessions.

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Smartphone and language skills

You have sufficient German language skills and a smartphone (Android or iOS).

How does the study work?

01
screening

As a first step, we want to get to know you briefly in a virtual conversation and see whether the program is suitable for you.

02
Access to the app & questionnaires

You choose an appointment online with one of our therapists, get access to the elona therapy app and some small questionnaires within the app.

03
Online talk therapy

For six weeks, you will receive psychological support once a week.

04
elona therapy between sessions

With elona therapy, you have the opportunity to repeat and deepen the content of psychological conversations in your everyday life.

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elona therapy between sessions

In a final conversation, you can document your successes and share them with us.

Are you interested in participating?

Our study is currently ongoing. We are looking forward to your registration.

To sign up

01
screening

As a first step, we want to get to know you briefly in a virtual conversation and see whether the program is suitable for you.

02
Access to the app & questionnaires

You choose an appointment online with one of our therapists, get access to the elona guide app and some small questionnaires within the app.

03
Online talk therapy

For six weeks, you will receive psychological support once a week.

04
Elona between sessions

With the elona guide app, you have the opportunity to repeat and deepen the content from psychological conversations in your everyday life.

05
Elona between sessions

In a final conversation, you can document your successes and share them with us.

Are you interested in participating?

Our study is currently ongoing. We are looking forward to your registration.

To sign up

These benefits await you

  • Elona Therapy
    Access elona therapy with our mental health strengthening program.
  • wöchentliche Psychotherapie
    Sie erhalten eine kurzfristig beginnende Psychotherapie über mindestens 8 Wochen.
  • Multimedia exercises
    Exciting psychotherapeutic exercises that you can easily do on the go or at home with the help of the app.
  • psychoeducation
    You have the chance to learn about mental illnesses and their treatment free of charge.
  • Independent participation
    You don't need a doctor's referral. We'll check whether you can be included in the program.

Elona Health

Who is developing the app?

The Düsseldorf-based start-up Elona Health develops innovative solutions for psychotherapy — to provide better care for patients and strengthen psychotherapists.

Frequently asked questions

How can I take part in the study?
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If you meet the inclusion or exclusion criteria, you can easily contact us via this website. You will then go through a small screening, i.e. a preliminary investigation, during which we will also check again, for your own safety, whether you are suitable for the study. If this is the case, we will give you access to our elona therapy app after your consent and arrange a weekly appointment for your personal online session with one of our psychologists.

I've been diagnosed with depression, anxiety disorder, or another mental health disorder, but I'm not receiving treatment yet. Can I still participate?
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This study is not intended to replace standard outpatient psychotherapeutic care. If you have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or another mental disorder, you should contact your family doctor and discuss further steps with him/her or attend consultations with a psychological psychotherapist. On the service hotline of the German Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians 116 117 können Sie bundesweit einen Termin bei Psychotherapeut:innen vor Ort vereinbaren.

How much time do I need to spend on the study?
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The weekly talk therapy takes place online and usually lasts 25 minutes. In addition, you should work on your exercises and interventions with elona therapy for about 30 to 60 minutes a week. Feel free to break that down to 5 to 10 minute slots per day. Whether at home or in another safe place is up to you. In total, you should set aside 60 to 90 minutes per week for your mental health.

Die Erfahrung zeigt, dass eine kontinuierliche Anwendung über 10 Wochen zu einer signifikanten Reduktion Ihrer Symptome führen kann. Ebenso können Sie mit Hilfe der Anwendung dauerhafte Veränderungen herbeiführen.

Are there any costs for the treatment?
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No We and our research partner the Robert Enke Foundation cover the costs of elona therapy and psychological sessions.

Where do the study or therapy sessions take place?
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The study as well as the psychological discussions take place online (video conference). To do this, we use separately approved tools for psychologists for a data-secure online session.

Who will find out about my participation in the study? How secure is my data?
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Only a technical study assistant and your assigned psychologist will know about your participation in the study. All data is pseudonymized for further use so that it no longer allows conclusions to be drawn. In addition, we comply with the applicable data protection regulations. The study concept as well as our data protection concept were reviewed by the Ethics Committee of the University of Mannheim.

Research manager

Ece Atik

Your contact person

You have further questions about the study, participation
or about the process? Feel free to contact us at any time viaresearch (at) elona.eu.

Contact now