Brief Mood Enhancement Intervention

Enhancing Mood Among Graduate Students: Evaluation of a Brief, Phone-Administered Behavioral Intervention

The purpose of the current study is to test the efficacy of two brief, behavioral interventions intended to improve burnout among doctoral-level graduate students (n = 102). Specifically, individuals will be randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: 1) Reward: a brief intervention to help participants increase engagement in healthy and rewarding values-driven behaviors, 2) Approach: a brief intervention to help participants identify and decrease emotion-driven avoidance of important goals, or 3) Control: a control condition that involves monitoring only. Multilevel modeling will be used to assess changes in burnout, mood, and stress, following the interventions, controlling for participants' individual baseline levels of these variables.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Currently enrolled in any in-person (not online) Ph.D. program in the state of North Carolina
• Demonstrating above average levels of burnout
• Has regular access to the Internet
• Has a Social Security Number
• Is able to read and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current mania or psychosis
• Current suicidal ideation
• Are currently in psychotherapy, have been in psychotherapy in the past 8 weeks, or are planning to start psychotherapy during the course of the 10-day study
• Have had any changes in psychiatric medications in the past 8 weeks, are not taking medications as prescribed or are planning to change medications during the course of the 10-day study
• Are currently taking benzodiazepines Pro Re Nata (PRN)
• Are under 18 years old