An Ecological Momentary Intervention for the Reduction of Impairment in Somatic Symptom Disorder

Persistent somatic symptoms significantly impair the daily lives of individuals with Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD). Negative psychological factors (NPFs), such as catastrophizing and negative affectivity, further compound this impairment. Yet, few studies have examined strategies in daily life that directly target somatic symptoms and their dynamic relationship with NPFs. The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if an Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) using music listening and cognitive reappraisal can reduce the intensity of and impairment due to somatic symptoms in 40 individuals with Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), aged 18-65 years.

Participants will report symptom intensity, impairment, and NPFs up to four times daily via a smartphone app over a six-week period. Using an intraindividual randomized controlled design, during weeks two to five, participants will be randomly assigned in the ratio of 50:25:25 to no intervention, music listening, and cognitive reappraisal, both at fixed times (evening measurement) and during episodes of acute somatic impairment.