Impact of Cognitive Control Training on Anger Symptoms and Reactive Aggression

NCT03684031 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Anger Study 2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

High trait anger is a personality construct characterized by elevations in the frequency, duration, and intensity of anger episodes. According to many social cognitive theories, hostile interpretations of everyday situations contribute to the development and maintenance of anger symptoms. This study will examine the effectiveness of a computer-based cognitive control training task.

Conditions

Anger

Keywords

Reactive Aggression; Anger; Cognitive Control Training; Anger Rumination

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2nd Edition

  A self-report measure of the experience of anger.

  Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)

• Computer-based cognitive control assessment

  A behavioural measure of hostility-primed cognitive control involving aggressive and neutral words.

  Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Anger Rumination Scale

  Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)

• Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)

  Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)

• Dot probe task

  Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)

• Adult Temperament Questionnaire (Effortful Control section)

  Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)

• Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire

  Administered two times over the course of one week. Changes will be examined from visit 1 (before CCT training program) to visit 2 (after CCT training program)

Study Arms (2)

Cognitive Control Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will complete a computer-based training program two times in the lab. Participants will complete the first training session in the lab during their initial visit and they will return to the lab one week later to complete the second session.

Behavioral: Cognitive Control Training

Sham Cognitive Control Training Program

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will complete a sham training program two times in the lab. The program will look similar in length and design to the experimental training program, but the content of the program will remain affectively neutral. As in the experimental condition, participants will complete the first training session in the lab during their initial visit and they will return to the lab one week later to complete the second session.

Behavioral: Sham Cognitive Control Training Program

Interventions

Cognitive Control Training BEHAVIORAL

A computer-based flanker task that aims to reinforce the recruitment of cognitive control in the presence of hostile/aggressive stimuli.

Cognitive Control Training

Sham Cognitive Control Training Program BEHAVIORAL

A placebo version of the computer-based cognitive control training. Designed to appear similar to the experimental task, but will not reinforce the recruitment of cognitive control in the presence of hostile/aggressive stimuli.

Sham Cognitive Control Training Program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• \. Score of 22 or higher on the Trait Anger Scale.

You may not qualify if:

• Reports currently receiving psychological treatment or counseling for anger management difficulties.
• Reports changes in psychiatric medication within the last month.
• Endorsement of current psychosis or bipolar disorder symptoms.
• Indicates poor English language proficiency.
• Reports clinically significant suicidal ideation, intent, or plan.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Toronto Metropolitan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ryerson University

Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Wilkowski BM, Robinson MD. The cognitive basis of trait anger and reactive aggression: an integrative analysis. Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2008 Feb;12(1):3-21. doi: 10.1177/1088868307309874. Epub 2007 Dec 18.

  PMID: 18453470 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Monique D Tremblay, M.A Ryerson University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 22, 2018
• First Posted: September 25, 2018
• Study Start: April 30, 2019
• Primary Completion: March 13, 2020
• Study Completion: March 13, 2020
• Last Updated: March 24, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)