This study aims to investigate the effects of the PsyPills mobile application on improving emotion regulation and reducing risk behaviors among emerging adults. PsyPills is a self-guided psychological intervention based on Rational-Emotive and Behavioral Therapy (REBT) principles and the Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) framework. The app provides short, contextually adaptive "psychological pills," or cognitive restructuring exercises, designed to help users replace irrational beliefs with rational alternatives in moments of emotional distress. The study will compare PsyPills app with an active control condition using the MoodWheel app, which supports emotional monitoring without therapeutic content.
High emotional regulation difficulties, but not severe (DERS total score 88-105)
At least one risky behavior with a frequency ≥ 2 on the RBQ Frequency Scale
Access to an Android or iOS smartphone
Diagnosed psychiatric disorders
Suicide risk (score ≥ 7 on the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, SBQ-R)
Parallel
PsyPills
BehavioralA self-guided mobile intervention based on Rational-Emotive and Behavioral Therapy (REBT) principles and the Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) framework. Provides short, adaptive "psychological pills" - personalized cognitive restructuring exercises aimed at identifying and replacing irrational beliefs, reducing dysfunctional emotionality, and improving emotion regulation.
MoodWheel
BehavioralThe active control condition involves using the MoodWheel app, designed for emotional self-monitoring without therapeutic content. Participants label and track their emotional states, but the app does not provide cognitive restructuring, feedback, or intervention elements.
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz \& Roemer, 2004) - 36 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = almost never, 5 = almost always). Total scores range from 36 to 180, with higher scores indicating greater difficulties in emotion regulation
Change from Baseline Difficulties in Emotion Regulation at 2 weeks
Change in DERS total and subscale scores, with higher decreases reflecting improved emotion regulation.
Change from Baseline Difficulties in Emotion Regulation at 1 month
Maintenance of change in DERS total and subscale scores.
Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies
Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-romanian version (CERQ; Perte \& Miclea, 2011) - 36 items across 9 subscales (e.g., reappraisal, acceptance, planning). Each subscale ranges from 4 to 20; higher scores indicate greater use of that strategy.
Risky Behaviors
Risky Behavior Questionnaire (RBQ; Weiss et al., 2018) - self-report scale assessing the frequency and emotional context (negative and positive affect) of risky behaviors such as substance use, risky sexual behavior, self-harm, aggression, and disordered eating. Higher scores indicate higher engagement in risky behaviors.
Change from Baseline Risky Behaviors at 2 weeks
Change in RBQ total and subscale scores, with reductions reflecting decreased engagement in risky behaviors.
Change from Baseline Risky Behaviors at 1 month
Maintenance of reductions in risky behaviors.
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