Problematic Use of Mobile PhonesCBTNCT07457658
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mobile Phone Addiction in Hospitalized Patients
A study testing Cognitive-behavioral therapy and Traditional treatment in the ward in people with Problematic Use of Mobile Phones, run by Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
Problematic mobile phone use is excessive dependence and use of electronic products and their functions, which affects the daily life of users. Previous studies have shown that mobile phone addiction is related to depression, anxiety severity, and stress, and it is negatively correlated with sleep quality. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 14 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Problematic Use of Mobile Phones
- What is being tested?
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy and Traditional treatment in the ward
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- Jun 2026to Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 14 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 14 years old.
- Willingness to treat problematic mobile phone usage behavior.
- Voluntarily participate in this study and sign an informed consent form. If the subject is unable to read and sign the informed consent form due to reasons such as lack of legal capacity, or if the subject is a minor, their guardian must act as a proxy for the informed process and sign the informed consent form. If the subject lacks the ability to read the informed consent form (such as illiterate subjects), a witness must witness the informed process and sign the informed consent form.
Who cannot join
- Having serious physical or mental illnesses (such as ongoing psychotic symptoms, manic episodes, or severely disabling neurological and psychiatric disorders), unable to cooperate with intervention.
- Previously received or currently undergoing CBT intervention for mobile phone addiction.
- Cognitive impairment patients, critically ill patients, pregnant women, etc.
- There are other situations that researchers consider unsuitable to participate in this study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China1 site
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000
About this study
Official title: The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mobile Phone Addiction and Emotional Improvement in Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Problematic mobile phone use is excessive dependence and use of electronic products and their functions, which affects the daily life of users. Previous studies have shown that mobile phone addiction is related to depression, anxiety severity, and stress, and it is negatively correlated with sleep quality. For hospitalized patients in the mental health department, symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and poor sleep are very common. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been widely applied in online gaming addiction and is also effective in intervening in mobile phone addiction. Therefore, Hospitalized patients in the mental health department will be randomized to either the CBT interventions or an control group. The main outcome measure is the Simplified Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV), measured before intervention and after the completion of the last brief intervention.
- Conditions
- Problematic Use of Mobile Phones
- Being tested
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Traditional treatment in the ward
- Keywords
- Problematic use of mobile phones, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cognitive-behavioral therapyOther
5 CBT intervention: the first intervention was conducted after the patient was hospitalized, completed relevant informed consent and pre-test, and lasted for about 30 minutes once; Follow up intervention 4 times: once a day for about 20 minutes. Traditional treatment in the ward includes drug therapy based on the different conditions of hospitalized patients, physical therapy such as work entertainment, Morita, biofeedback therapy, etc. Some patients may also receive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy and psychological therapy.
Traditional treatment in the wardOther
Traditional treatment in the ward includes drug therapy based on the different conditions of hospitalized patients, physical therapy such as work entertainment, Morita, biofeedback therapy, etc. Some patients may also receive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy and psychological therapy.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| CBT Intervention Group | Experimental | Besides traditional treatment in the ward, a self-designed self-help manual for mobile phone addiction was distributed, and five psychological interventions were carried out. Receives: Other: Cognitive-behavioral therapy |
| Control Group | Other | Besides traditional treatment in the ward, a self-designed self-help manual for mobile phone addiction was distributed. Receives: Other: Traditional treatment in the ward |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Simplified version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV)
The SAS-SV scale was developed by Min Kwon et al. in 2013, consisting of 10 items, and using a 6-level scoring method.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Secondary outcomes (13)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 （GAD7）
The scale consists of 7 items and uses a 4-level scoring system. The higher the total score, the higher the level of anxiety.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Used to evaluate the sleep quality over the past month. This scale consists of 19 self-evaluation items and 5 self-evaluation items. Among them, the 19th self-evaluation item and 5 other evaluation items do not participate in scoring. The 18 self-evaluation items participating in the scoring process constitute 7 components, each of which is scored using a 4-point scoring method ranging from 0-3 points. The sum of the scores for each factor is the total PSQI score. A total score greater than 7 indicates the presence of sleep quality issues.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
IAT Internet Addiction Questionnaire
The scale consists of 20 items and is rated on a 5-point scale.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES)
The scale consists of 10 items and is rated on a 4-point scale.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Self Control Strength Scale (SCS)
The study used the revised Chinese version of the scale. The scale contains 19 items and adopts a 5-point scoring system.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Patient Health Questionnaire-9（PHQ-9）
The scale consists of 9 items and uses a 4-level scoring system. The higher the total score, the greater the individual's depressive mood.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
The Anhedonia Scale for Adolescents (ASA)
A Chinese version of 14 items, with a 4-level scoring system.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Short Video Addiction Scale
Used to measure addiction to short videos. Contains 14 items, using a 5-point scoring system.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Social Media Barrier Scale (BSMAS)
Used to measure social media addiction. The scale consists of 6 items and uses a 5-point scoring system.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Pressure Perception Scale (PSS-10)
Used to measure the subjective perceived level of stress. Using 10 item versions with a 5-point rating.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Simplified Barratt Impulse Scale (BBIS) in Chinese
The simplified scale consists of 8 items and uses a 4-point rating system.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Happiness Index Scale (WHO-5)
The scale consists of 5 items and adopts a 6-level scoring system.
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Severity of Game Addiction (IGDS9)
The scale consists of 9 items and uses a 5-point scoring system
Measured: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Mar 2026
- Study startJun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Problematic Use of Mobile PhonesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Sir Run Run Shaw HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07457658
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-0156
- Other IDs
- 2022ZD0211200
- Acronym
- CBT
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mobile Phone Addiction and Emotional Improvement in Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07457658
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CBT / 2026-0156
- Conditions
- Problematic Use of Mobile Phones
- Keywords
- Problematic use of mobile phones, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Sir Run Run Shaw HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Problematic mobile phone use is excessive dependence and use of electronic products and their functions, which affects the daily life of users. Previous studies have shown that mobile phone addiction is related to depression, anxiety severity, and stress, and it is negatively correlated with sleep quality. For hospitalized patients in the mental health department, symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and poor sleep are very common. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been widely applied in online gaming addiction and is also effective in intervening in mobile phone addiction. Therefore, Hospitalized patients in the mental health department will be randomized to either the CBT interventions or an control group. The main outcome measure is the Simplified Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV), measured before intervention and after the completion of the last brief intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| CBT Intervention Group | Experimental | Other: Cognitive-behavioral therapyBesides traditional treatment in the ward, a self-designed self-help manual for mobile phone addiction was distributed, and five psychological interventions were carried out. |
| Control Group | Other | Other: Traditional treatment in the wardBesides traditional treatment in the ward, a self-designed self-help manual for mobile phone addiction was distributed. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 14 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age ≥ 14 years old.
- Willingness to treat problematic mobile phone usage behavior.
- Voluntarily participate in this study and sign an informed consent form. If the subject is unable to read and sign the informed consent form due to reasons such as lack of legal capacity, or if the subject is a minor, their guardian must act as a proxy for the informed process and sign the informed consent form. If the subject lacks the ability to read the informed consent form (such as illiterate subjects), a witness must witness the informed process and sign the informed consent form.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Having serious physical or mental illnesses (such as ongoing psychotic symptoms, manic episodes, or severely disabling neurological and psychiatric disorders), unable to cooperate with intervention.
- Previously received or currently undergoing CBT intervention for mobile phone addiction.
- Cognitive impairment patients, critically ill patients, pregnant women, etc.
- There are other situations that researchers consider unsuitable to participate in this study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive-behavioral therapy5 CBT intervention: the first intervention was conducted after the patient was hospitalized, completed relevant informed consent and pre-test, and lasted for about 30 minutes once; Follow up intervention 4 times: once a day for about 20 minutes. Traditional treatment in the ward includes drug therapy based on the different conditions of hospitalized patients, physical therapy such as work entertainment, Morita, biofeedback therapy, etc. Some patients may also receive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy and psychological therapy. | Other | CBT Intervention Group |
| Traditional treatment in the wardTraditional treatment in the ward includes drug therapy based on the different conditions of hospitalized patients, physical therapy such as work entertainment, Morita, biofeedback therapy, etc. Some patients may also receive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy and psychological therapy. | Other | Control Group |
Primary outcome
Simplified version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
The SAS-SV scale was developed by Min Kwon et al. in 2013, consisting of 10 items, and using a 6-level scoring method.
13 secondary outcomes
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 （GAD7）
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
IAT Internet Addiction Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Self Control Strength Scale (SCS)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Patient Health Questionnaire-9（PHQ-9）
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
The Anhedonia Scale for Adolescents (ASA)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Short Video Addiction Scale
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Social Media Barrier Scale (BSMAS)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Pressure Perception Scale (PSS-10)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Simplified Barratt Impulse Scale (BBIS) in Chinese
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Happiness Index Scale (WHO-5)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Severity of Game Addiction (IGDS9)
Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cognitive-behavioral therapy and Traditional treatment in the ward in people with Problematic Use of Mobile Phones, run by Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Yanhui Liao (+86 18814898844, liaoyanhui@zju.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Simplified version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV) (time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (day 5)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jul 2026.